
















r 

















■ r *. 














































* 
















































































* 













































•• 
































4ft *} ' - \ -J * * — S - ‘ v - jC 


























































* 



Aunt Lena and Elsie 



The Stark Family. 

8! 0ketdl) of f(eiil I<ife. 


FROM THE SWEDISH OF II. HOFSTEN. 

• i 
BY 

CARL LARSEN. 



HITCHCOCK AND WALDEN. 
NEW YORK: NELSON & PHILLIPS. 




Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1876, by 


HITCHCOCK & WALDEN, 


In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. 



> 

Hi 


5SL 

•V 

EDITOR’S PREFACE. 



pN human society, education is not lim- 
r ited to the school-room. We take our 


bias from our circumstances, from the 
people with whom we mingle, and from 
the opinions of our parents and elders. 
We have two opposite lines of conduct marked 
out for us; the one by the Church, the other 
by the world. The one promises us position, 
power, influence over others, wealth and pleas- 
ure; the other demands humility, self-denial, 
service and toil; but the end of the one is 
death and of the other, life. 

In the following pages are pointed out these 
two ways and the classes of people pursuing 
them ; the influences which educate for the 


4 


EDITOR’S PREFACE. 


world and the agencies that educate for Christ; 
the unsatisfactory portion of those who make 
knowledge, fashion and fame their highest 
good, and the repose and quiet of those who 
have given themselves to God and live in him. 
No sermon is so effective as a good example. 
God’s children are God’s witnesses; and a pure, 
holy, and loving life is more than miracles, than 
the gift of prophecy, than the knowledge of all 
mysteries. It was not by subtle argument that 
Axel was won to the faith. “Science falsely 
so called” drove him from it; a Christian life 
recovered him to it. And herein is the moral 
of the whole story: “Not by might nor by 
power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord.” 




CONTENTS. 



PAGE. 

CHAPTER I. 

United, yet Separated — Separated, yet United, . 9 

CHAPTER II. 

What occurs Gradually occurs Quietly, . . 22 


CHAPTER III. 

God moves in a Mysterious Way. .... 34 

CHAPTER IV. 

The Dawn of a New Day, 46 

CHAPTER V. 

Summer in the Country, 53 

CHAPTER VI. 

The Tutor, 63 


5 


6 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER VII. 

PAGE. 

Learned, and Yet Ignorant, 78 

CHAPTER VIII. 

Poison of Unbelief, 86 

CHAPTER IX. 

Honey upon the Lips, Wormwood in the Heart, . 96 

CHAPTER X. 

The Journey to Marstrand, 107 

CHAPTER XI. 

“ My Life is a Wave,” 121 

CHAPTER XII. 

Truth and Falsehood, 135 

CHAPTER XIII. 

The Meeting, I4 6 

CHAPTER XIV. 

“ Be not Wise in thine Own Eyes,” . . .159 

CHAPTER XV. 


Vanity, 


. 171 


CONTENTS. 


7 


CHAPTER XVI. 

PAGE. 

A Maternal Heart, 179 

CHAPTER XVII. 

Designs and Deliberations, 192 

CHAPTER XVIII. 

“Boast not of the Day before the Evening,” . 199 

CHAPTER XIX. 

Taking Leave, 21 1 

CHAPTER XX. 

Homeward Bound, 221 

CHAPTER XXI. 

“ All is Well that ends Well,” .... 225 


ILLUSTRATIONS. 


Aunt Lena and Elsie, .... Frontispiece . 

Aunt Lena and Her Mother, 

After the Ball, 

Elsie and Mrs. Billmer, 


PAGE. 

44 

119 

215 



LENA: 

OR, 

THE STARK FAMILY. 


dlikptef I. 

UNITED, YET SEPARATED— SEPARATED, YET UNITED. 

IGHT years had passed since Clara 
Stark entered, as a bride, her wealthy 
but cheerless home. Soon forever 
jifS- she must leave it. Yes, soon! she felt 
| this. She had often heard “the falling of 
i leaves” spoken of in connection with the 
death of other consumptives; and to her ques- 
tion, whether this time were fraught with pe- 
culiar danger to herself, she received from the 
physician a grave reply that confirmed her 
apprehensions. 

From her window she could see but little of 
the sky; yet, above roofs and chimneys, she 

9 



10 


LENA. 


perceived heavy October clouds, and the dark, 
dirty street gave equal evidence of the presence 
of Autumn. The prospect was so dull and 
damp that she shuddered involuntarily, and, 
drawing her shawl more tightly around her, 
took her accustomed place upon the sofa, where 
now was spent the greater portion of the day. 

With half-closed eyes, she relapsed into retro- 
spection. She thought of the happiness of her 
childhood in the unpretending paternal home 
away there — far away, it seemed to her — near 
by the fresh, rustling woods; where, a child, 
she had played with the pine-cones, plucked 
strawberries and flowers, and sat long whiles 
listening to the whisperings of nature. That 
these were about God, she knew full well, but 
was unable to comprehend the language. 

Often, at a later day, a similar feeling over- 
came her while perusing her Bible. There was 
the rustling of a powerful spirit; words from 
God, and about God. As a little child again, 
she sat listening, feeling herself an infinitesimal, 
yet at the same time infinitely safe. Her theo- 
retical knowledge of spiritual things was small ; 
but this she knew: that the Savior of the world 
had lived, suffered, and died for her; and her 
conviction concerning this was so firm as to 
enable her, without a shudder, to view the ap- 


THE STARK FAMILY. 


II 


proach of death. How she had attained to 
such a degree of faith she hardly knew ; for 
without human guidance had been her search 
for light and truth. Christian communion, with 
its blessings and temptations, was no part of her 
experience. Thought of death had been the 
preacher that aroused her, and God’s own 
Word her teacher and comforter. Her sensitive 
spirit had, ere finding peace, encountered few 
struggles ; so few that, had she opened her heart 
to some older Christian, who had met severe 
struggles, he would perhaps have warned her, 
and endeavored to show that a peace so easily 
acquired must be a false one. But from such a 
trial she was spared, and with child-like confi- 
dence clung to Him who has declared that the 
smoking flax he will not quench, nor break the 
bruised reed. 

From the sunny scenes of childhood, her 
thoughts moved forward. The fresh, poetic 
wood gave place to other pictures ; she saw her- 
self, a tender, withering plant, in a renowned 
boarding-school. Studies, reprimands, school- 
girl intrigues, stolen opportunities for fictitious 
reading, and bad fare, were the recollections of 
this period, from which she turned with indif- 
ference. 

Again stepped forth her early home, as it 


12 


LENA. 


was when her age was sixteen, and her education 
looked upon as completed. How her heart 
throbbed with joy when, at her return from 
school, the old familiar gate opened on its grat- 
ing hinges, welcoming her to Paradise — so it 
, seemed! How happy was she in the embrace 
of her parents, and were all, at her return — 
old Stina, who stood in the kitchen doorway, 
wiping away her tears with her apron; Law- 
rence — the homely, honest Lawrence — who, in 
ecstasy at again beholding Miss Clara, laughed 
so heartily that his eyes seemed to retire mod- 
estly, in making way for the broad smile; and 
Tusse, the watch-dog, whose demonstrations 
were so violent as to cause a big hole in her 
dress, and almost tumble her over ! And what 
pies she got ! O, all was so rich and nice ! 

A faint smile illuminated the features of the 
sufferer at these reminiscences; but the pictures 
soon became obscured. The joy of the return 
was succeeded by a certain sense of void. She 
had neither brother nor sister, nor regular occu- 
pation. She needed “repose” — so her parents 
thought — and the repose she took was abandon- 
ment to dreams and fiction. 

To be sure, when seated with her book in 
the wood, the rustling in the fir-trees above her 
head was as solemn as of yore; but she listened 


THE STARK FAMILY. 


13 


not as then. Her imagination was ever filled 
with variegated pictures; and the monotonous 
life at home, the quiet, great life in nature, 
seemed to her colorless and empty. Many a 
time had she dropped her book and sighed at 
her misfortune — the possession of a good, quiet 
home. How uninteresting and insignificant her 
existence seemed ! But, amid her idle dreaming, 
grief suddenly came. Her father died. The 
little property was sold, and she removed, with 
her mother, to Stockholm, there to live upon 
the interest of the little capital left them by the 
father. 

Well, she had got so far as to be poor and 
unhappy. However, this was much less roman- 
tically interesting than she had imagined. The 
small rooms, the daily cares in making the 
money reach, the missing of the father, the 
constant complaints of the mother, — all this was 
far more dispiriting than the quiet life at Skogsvig. 

One day she was sitting alone, thinking, as 
ever, upon her heroines, wondering if any of 
them had. led such a tiresome life as was hers, 
when there came a knock at the door. She 
opened it, and saw before her a gentleman, with 
light, smoothly combed hair, and large specta- 
cles, through which looked forth a pair of 
earnest, pale-blue eyes. 


14 


LENA. 


How tiresome she thought he appeared! 
How well she remembered the oppressive silence 
that followed the self-introduction as merchant 
Stark, and invitation to be seated, for ‘ ‘ mother 
would be in immediately;” and, finally, when 
mother appeared, the chitchat concerning mat- 
ters which she did not understand. How her 
mother thanked him, with tears, ‘ ‘ that he would 
be a protector to two poor, defenseless ones;” 
and how reluctant he seemed at the knightly 
character her mother would attribute to him, 
assuring her that her affairs were in such an 
orderly condition, and so easily managed, he 
could see nothing to protect them from! 

And so he took leave, but often returned. 
Sometimes she wondered, “Why?” He had so 
little to say! But one day he came, looking, if 
possible, more smoothly brushed than usual, and 
asked for her hand. Her mother consented, 
with undisguised pleasure, while herself sat as 
if paralyzed by lightning. 

She felt her hand placed in his, her mother’s 
embrace, and heard her benediction; felt his 
arm placed awkwardly and timidly around her 
waist, his kiss upon her forehead. And so she 
was engaged. To be sure, she afterward aroused 
from her passive compliance, and told her mother 
it was impossible that she should become the 


THE STARK FAMILY. 


15 


wife of the merchant; but the mother’s tears 
and entreaties prevailed. And, after all, there 
was something pleasing to her overwrought 
fancy in the thought that she was sacrificing 
herself for her mother, and becoming so deeply, 
so touchingly unhappy. 

With a sting of conscience, she remembered 
how joy had beamed from the merchant’s earnest 
eyes during the brief period of their engage- 
ment, and when, as a husband, he conducted 
her to his home, her feeling of captivity as she 
saw the large, dark rooms, with the rich, heavy 
curtains, admitting so sparingly the dim October 
light, the massive furniture, the pent-up air; 
how he turned to her, to find some look of 
appreciative pleasure, and she burst into tears. 

Thus began their married life; and had its 
continuance been like its commencement? Alas! 
yes. She felt as depressed and strange in her 
husband’s presence now as then, and the ex- 
pression of joy had never returned to his eye as 
it rested upon her. Upon his children he could 
look with pleasure and love. If he had only 
been wont to bestow upon her the same fervent 
look as upon them, then — 

Here her meditations were interrupted by the 
clatter of little feet, and a fine, healthy-looking 
boy of six years came running toward her. 


1 6 


LENA. 


“Mamma,” he cried, “we have been out to 
walk — 0, so far off — and you can ’t think how 
nice it was ! The trees are so handsome, 
and have so many colors, and the falling leaves 
go dancing and whirling as if they were alive. 
And I ’ve seen so many apples ; and I bought 
four with my own money. I wanted to stay 
longer; but Kirsten said it was going to rain, 
and it was ’most dinner-time, and that you were 
so lonely, sweet mamma.” 

Kirsten, the nurse, and, moreover, a pretty 
important personage in the house, now entered, 
with the baby, Elsie, who extended her fat arms 
toward her mother. 

Could Clara have seen the beaming, lovely 
expression of her own countenance, as she 
looked upon her children, the thought would 
perhaps have occurred, “Have I ever looked 
thus at my husband?” and her conscience would 
have replied, “No, no!” 

“Do you know, mamma, Elsie can almost 
walk alone? See, mamma!” said Axel, and 
opened his arms to receive the little one, who 
really, with some tottering steps, came into his 
embrace, winding her arms around his neck. 

“See, see, mother!” cried Axel. “She 
came so willingly to me, although I had n’t 
any thing to coax her with. Kirsten holds out 


THE STARK FAMILY. 1 7 

candy and toys to her ; but she likes me 
best.” 

The mother smiled, while tears filled her 
eyes. 

“My own boy,” said she, “may you ever 
remain thus loving toward your sister! Soon I 
must leave my little children so lonely in the 
world. God’s love watches over you ; but do n’t 
forget to love — love — ” 

She was interrupted by a violent cough. The 
tired head sank back upon the pillow, and a 
stream of blood issued from her pale lips. 

With an exclamation of dread, Axel pressed 
his sister so tightly in his arms that she began 
to cry. The excited old, nurse hurriedly lifted 
the babe in her arms, and, giving Axel a push, 
to accelerate his exit, cried: 

“Out of the room — do you hear? There is 
misery enough here, without you getting up a 
scene, and frightening the poor baby.” 

The children were left alone, in the dark, un- 
comfortable nursery. Elsie soon cried herself 
asleep ; but Axel sat there, pale and still, with 
his large, dark eyes fixed upon the door, and 
his little hands clinched while he listened. 
First, he heard quick steps through doors and 
stairways; then the squeaking of his father’s boots, 
in a manner that denoted great hurry, and the 
2 


i8 


LENA. 


sound of each step fell upon his ears like a 
short, sharp cry. A while after, a carriage 
stopped outside. He recognized the steps of 
the doctor, who also was in a hurry. 

It began to grow dark. The expected rain 
fell in heavy drops, rolling adown the window- 
panes like big tears. All seemed so anxious 
and cold. 

“Soon I must leave my little children lonely 
in the world,” mother had said. The words 
resounded in Axel’s memory, and he felt them 
so bitter and heavy. ‘ ‘ Had she perhaps already 
gone away?” He must see her. He sprang 
up, opened the door, and went quickly through 
the dark passage. Qutside the sick-room he 
paused. His heart throbbed. His little frame 
quivered. Should he venture? Yes; the door 
slowly opened. No. one saw him. He glided 
forward into the shade of the bed-curtains, and 
found his father and mother alone in the dimly 
lighted room. He could see, through the open 
door, the doctor and Kirsten, standing in the 
anteroom, silent and grave, before the stove, in 
which the fire was merrily blazing, seeming in 
such contrast with the surrounding gloom. 

Axel heard his father’s voice, broken by sobs, 
and so mild he could hardly recognize it. 

“Clara, can you forgive me? I have made 


THE STARK FAMILY. 


l 9 


your life so unhappy. You have been very 
dear to me, but I have never had the courage 
and ability to make it manifest to you. You 
can never comprehend what I have suffered from 
my own awkward reserve. Your poor mother 
not only herself imagined that you were fortu- 
nate, but caused me to do the same. And you, 
poor little child! you, alas, sacrificed yourself, 
without opening your mouth in one cry of an- 
guish. Why were not my eyes opened before 
it was too late? You have never complained; 
but think you not that I have seen how your 
youth has faded and dissolved in tears? Clara, 
can you forgive?” 

“Hush, hush! you mustn’t speak so. I 
have nothing to forgive,” whispered the sick 
one. “I see every thing now so clearly. I 
have been unhappy because I have been bound- 
lessly selfish. I have reveled in pain, without a 
thought that my husband, too, could suffer. It 
is I who have made you unhappy. Thank God, 
he has shown me the enormity of my sin at the 
same time with forgiveness. Yes; grace I ex- 
perience, only the grace of God’s merciful love. 
He has forgiven me, and will you?” 

A smile of hope lighted the pallid coun- 
tenance. The feeble arms were extended, and 
in a long embrace they were clasped who 


20 


LENA. 


so long had been united, and yet had been 
separated. 

But the exertion proved too great. The 
peaceful, solemn silence was interrupted by a 
violent cough. Again there was anxiety and 
stir in the sick-room, and the little pale listener 
was discovered, but not to be punished or 
pushed away. It was the father who perceived 
him, took his little hand within his own, and 
said, tenderly: 

“Come, my little boy, let us sit here. We 
can’t help mamma; but we can look at her, if 
only we do n’t get in the doctor’s way. ’•’ 

Axel felt so honored and proud at this fa- 
miliar “we,” that, in his childish inability to 
comprehend grief, he sat upon the sofa quite 
contented, considering, with the eye of a gen- 
eral, all that transpired in the room. 

Soon all was still again. The sick one fell 
into a deep slumber. The others sat, silently 
waiting. The old clock, with its rattling sound, 
seemed rapidly measuring off the last hours of 
the young woman’s life. Yet a few more, and 
the inquietude of time to her would have 
ceased. 

Death approached, solemnly, secretly ; not 
as a messenger of judgment, but as one from 
Him who has said, “I am the resurrection 


THE STARK FAMILY. 


21 


and the life;” and, before the moment of de- 
parture, Axel was wrapped in the healthful, 
quiet slumber of childhood. 




dl\k,ptef II. 


WHAT OCCURS GRADUALLY, OCCURS QUIETLY. 



HE day succeeding his wife’s death, 


merchant Stark wrote to his only sis- 


ter, Miss Lena, asking her to come 


and undertake the superintendence of his 
- household. While his wife was yet living, 
he had proffered her a home with him; but 
his invitation had been firmly declined. She 
believed herself more useful where she was, and 
feared that the society of an elderly sister-in- 
law might seem uncongenial to his young wife. 
Now that she was needed, she was immediately 
ready to come. 

But, before her entrance to her brother’s 
family, it may be well to make her acquaint- 
ance. Unaffected, upright, and industrious, she 
had struggled through life. The roses of youth 
had long before disappeared from her cheeks, if, 
indeed, they had ever bloomed there. One felt 
tempted to believe, rather, that her entree to the 


22 


I 


THE STARK FAMILY. 23 

world had been made with the same weather- 
beaten exterior that now characterized her, and 
reminded one of storms and rough weather. 
Not as if herself were the “storm-awakening 
power.” No; she was quiet ever, like her 
brother; but one could see that her life had 
comprised not many sunny days; yet, notwith- 
standing, her eye contained a look of cheerful- 
ness which inspired confidence; and knowledge 
of direction was perceptibly a leading feature of 
her life. 

Her childhood was spent in a home of pov- 
erty and care. Her father was a person of weak 
character, who drank and wept, was intoxicated 
and sentimental, during the whole day. Her 
mother, on the contrary, was energetic, des- 
potic, and violent, hesitating not, in presence 
of her children, to express to her husband her 
contempt for his weakness. 

Lena, the eldest child, the only sister of two 
brothers, became early familiar with self-denial 
and toil. With the never-to-be-restricted sense 
of justice possessed by a child, she could but 
pity and despise her father, while she blamed 
the conduct, yet respected the energy, of her 
mother. 

Thus many years passed away. The quiet, 
industrious girl grew to the age of sixteen. Her 


24 


LENA. 


father had gone to a drunkard’s grave. His 
death was one of those horrible scenes, so oft re- 
peated, yet ineffectual to turn from their course 
those who tread the path of vice. Lena sat, 
trembling, beside the sick-bed, listening to her 
father’s horrible fancies, and saw, with dread, 
death’s solemn silence interrupt the restless 
struggle. 

She pondered upon his fate, and upon her 
own. Then, one day, her eye fell upon the 
old, dusty Bible; and she determined to seek 
there an answer to the many questions that dis- 
turbed her thoughts. Her first effort was very 
discouraging. She read and sought; but what 
she found was neither light nor peace. She was 
impressed with a sense of the holiness and jus- 
tice of God, while her own condition seemed 
increasingly wretched. However, continuity was 
a part of her character, and she kept on. In 
the poor home, there was little time for reading ; 
yet no day passed without her having given a 
little to the perusal of her Bible. 

One Sunday forenoon, she sat alone at 
home. The scantily furnished little room was 
clean and peaceful, and the sun shone brightly 
upon the flowers in the window; but Lena’s 
heart seemed heavier than usual. Her mother 
had censured her for “hanging over the Bible;” 


THE STARK FAMILY. 


25 


her younger brother had annoyed her with his 
merriment; the elder one (the merchant) had, 
the day previous, left home to begin to earn his 
bread. Through the assistance of relatives, he 
had obtained a situation in Stockholm, and was, 
consequently, far away from his little native 
town, lying there, in a forgotten corner, never 
dreaming of its future greatness, when railroad 
and telegraph should put it in connection with 
the rest of the world. To Lena, all now seemed 
empty; for Gustav was the only one who had 
understood her. 

The Bible lay open before her. She read-; 
but. her thoughts were not there, and the act 
seemed like' a work of thralldom, without life 
or hope. Her perseverance tottered. A sense 
of being alone, sinful and lost, overcame her. 
After turning the leaves backward and forth for 
a while, she pushed the book from her, for- 
ever she thought, and, with this act, the last 
plank of safety. In despairing anguish, her head 
sank upon the table, and tears deluged her pale 
cheeks, when, suddenly, from the depths of her 
heart, arose a prayer, dim and groping, but 
full of life: “Lord, have mercy! Lord, help!” 
and she was brought to experience the truth 
of the promise, “While yet they call, I will 
answer.” He who calmed the tempest of Gen- 


2 6 


LENA. 


nesaret, calmed also the tempest of her heart; 
and, in blessed wonder, she felt that for her, 
too, there was grace, pardon, and peace. She 
raised her head, and her eye fell upon the open 
Bible, which, so shortly before, she had pushed 
from her; and, drawing it to her, she read: 
4 ‘Fear not: for I have redeemed thee. I have 
called thee by thy name; thou art mine.” These 
words were so plain an assurance of the pres- 
ence of God’s Spirit, speaking in her heart, that 
it seemed as if she more heard than read them. 

She was sitting thus, when her mother re- 
turned from Church, and, with an unkind push, 
exclaimed: 

“Are you asleep, this bright Sunday morn- 
ing, when other decent people are in church! 
You ought to have heard how the minister 
spoke about our duties, and the pleasure of 
dying, when one can look back upon a life well 
spent, and think of all the good he has done. 
That is preaching one can understand and appre- 
ciate. Yes, it was something different from that 
of the ranter whom the Lundgrens fooled me to 
go and hear, last week. He cried at people, how 
wicked they were, and almost got me to believe 
I was no better than a robber or a murderer. 
What are you gazing at? You stare at me, as if 
you didn’t understand me! Aren’t you awake?” 


THE STARK FAMILY. 


2 7 


“Yes, I am awake for the first time rn my 
life; and, with God’s help, I shall not sleep 
again,” replied Lena, rising to go out into the 
kitchen and resume the forgotten preparation for 
dinner. 

Now it was the mother’s turn to stare at 
Lena. She would have liked to relieve herself 
of a multitude of words; but the daughter’s 
countenance had bespoken such holy earnest- 
ness, that the mother, contrary to habit, felt 
compelled to silence. 

This Sunday was the turning-point in Lena’s 
life. The light that then beamed in her soul 
was never extinguished. To be sure, it shone 
not always equally bright. Many clouds of dis- 
couragement in her heart, as in the hearts of 
other Christians, would arise, hiding the sun 
of grace; but night never again prevailed there. 
Gladly would she have persuaded her parent to 
be a partaker of the blessedness she had found; 
but the mother’s high opinion of her own suffi- 
ciency was a barrier which the gentle, unassum- 
ing daughter could not demolish. 

Lena went quietly forward, hoping that God 
would use other means for the performance of a 
work to which she was unequal, when only, in 
firm trust, she invoked his aid. Thus she waited 
long, without wearying in prayer. Year after 


28 


LENA. 


year rolled away, and the answer to the petition 
came; but the messengers that brought it were 
not smiling angels. Their names were sickness, 
grief, pain, want, and death. 

The strong, self-reliant Mrs. Stark was laid 
upon a bed of illness, weak and helpless as a 
child. At first, she resolved to bear the misfor- 
tune well, as she believed she had her other 
vicissitudes; but the difficulties increased, and 
her helplessness accordingly. Her mind became 
filled with bitterness and complaint. The family 
expenses grew, and, consequent upon her ill- 
ness, the income diminished; for, although from 
Gustav came small contributions of money, their 
main dependence was the combined earnings of 
the mother and daughter. Now, while the for- 
mer lay ill, much of the time of the latter was 
occupied in nursing her. 

But one sunbeam remained — happy, kind 
Fritz, not only the pet of mother and sister, 
but, one could almost say, of the whole place. 
With honor he had gone through the prepara- 
tory school course, and was ready for Upsala 
University in the Fall; but, at present, he was 

acting as tutor in the family of Judge , 

where he was a great favorite. The village 
druggist, a rich old bachelor, who was his god- 
father, had hinted at a design to leave him the 


THE STARK FAMILY. 


2 9 


greater part of his property, and promised to 
bear the expenses of his collegiate course; for 
his plan was to study medicine. Many a time 
was the gloom that prevailed in his mother’s 
sick-room dispelled by his cheerfulness. 

One day, as was his habit, he came running 
up the rickety stairs that led to his mother’s 
room, and always, with a peculiar squeak, an- 
nounced to the expectant ones his coming. 

“Welcome, my boy!” cried his mother. 
“How late you are to-day; but the weather is 
so fine, no wonder, that, in the open air, the 
young forget those, who, lying upon the couch 
of pain, can get no more of the Summer than 
flies, and the effluvia of the gutter, whenever 
the window is opened.” 

“O, little ma,” replied Fritz, “you are really 
unjust. I was late, to-day, just because I re- 
membered you. See what a bouquet I have 
brought you ! I wish I had its duplicate for my 
bride on my wedding-day; and each individual 

rose I plucked from Judge ’s garden, that 

you may have a little taste of the Summer, dear 
mother.” 

“Thank you, Fritz,” said Lena. “See how 
beautiful it looks, upon the table, beside mam- 
ma’s bed.” 

“I have suffered more pain than usual,” said 


30 


LENA. 


the mother. “I have been alone nearly the 
whole forenoon. Lena has been out in the 
kitchen, baking; but I believe she has been 
hanging over some book, or she could have 
looked in upon me a little oftener. ” 

Lena took her sewing, without making reply, 
while Fritz, distressed for his sister, hastened to 
turn conversation in another direction. 

“What a pity I haven’t finished my stud- 
ies,” said he, “so I could rid mamma of her 
pains, and procure myself world-wide renown. 
Wouldn’t that be nice, mamma? I’ve been 
tempted to give up medicine. I believe I 
would rather be a minister; I could do more 
good.” 

“I have always thought,” said Lena, “that 
no one had better opportunity for doing good 
than a doctor.” 

“That is so,” said Fritz. “I was not in ear- 
nest; I wouldn’t relinquish my chosen vocation. 
May I only be able rightly to fill it!” 

As he spoke, his youthful countenance wore 
a look of such earnestness and hope as to cause 
from 'Lena’s heart a glad thanksgiving to rise. 
She seemed to perceive in the young man’s soul 
the dawn of a new life. Upon the mother, his 
earnestness produced a quite different impres- 
sion. It awoke a vague fear. What was the 


TIIE STARK FAMILY. 


31 


matter with her happy boy? Had some one 
been putting extravagant scruples into his head? 

Fritz turned to Lena, and suddenly inter- 
rupted the silence: 

“Did you go to the Bible-class, last evening ?” 
he asked. 

“No,” replied Lena, with a little sigh. 

“No!” exclaimed the mother; “I will not 
have it. Lena has more liberty than most girls 
of her age” — in what the liberty consisted, was 
an enigma — “but such carryings-on as the new 
vicar has introduced, I can not but utterly dis- 
approve. To go, in the middle of the week, to 
church, instead of attending to one’s business, 
is certainly a misuse of time.” 

A mischievous smile shone from the eye of 
Fritz, as he replied: 

“For my part, I must confess that I really 
neglected something, by sitting in church from 
seven to eight, last evening. Can you forgive 
me, mamma, for forgetting an invitation?” 

“Would you have taken part in such an 
affair as that last night?” 

“Why not?” replied Fritz. “But, you see, 
in the afternoon, a lady friend asked me to ac- 
company her, in th'e evening, to church; and 
I could n’t refuse. I thought there would be 
plenty of time for the entertainment afterward; 


32 


LENA. 


and, if I had had any desire for it, I suppose 
there would have been ; but 1 was so impressed 
by what I heard at church, I forgot all about it. 
The lesson was in first Corinthians, second chap- 
ter and first nine verses. You ought to have- 
heard the new vicar. He spoke of the enor- 
mity of sin, to have needed so great an atone- 
ment. He took away all my pillars of morality ; 
but he did n’t leave me there. He gave me a 
firmer foundation to build upon. Then the con- 
clusion! I wish I could tell you how he spoke 
of what no eye hath seen and no ear heard, 
that God has prepared for those who love him!” 

Fritz became silent, and seemed absorbed in 
thought upon what he had heard. 

“Tell me, mamma,” said he, after a while, 
“did I do very wrong in neglecting the enter- 
tainment?” 

“Have I said I wished you to go to a 
carouse?” asked the mother. “You know that 
I disapprove of them.” 

“Utterly, as of the Bible-class?” asked Fritz, 
with a smile. 

“Hush, saucy boy!” retorted the mother. 
“It is in very bad taste to speak, at the same 
time, upon things so opposite.” 

Mrs. Stark felt uneasy at the turn conversation 
had taken, and knew that she had improperly 


THE STARK FAMILY. 


33 


judged the Bible-class; but to acknowledge a 
mistake was a weakness of which she had never 
been guilty. Fritz perceived that a struggle was 
going on within his mother’s mind ; and, too ten- 
der to be willing to prolong it, he arose to go. 

“Well,** said he, “here I am sitting, forget- 
ting my duties. It is after twelve o’clock; and 
I promised the little boys to take them out 
bathing to-day. I am teaching them to swim. 
They will soon be able to dive as well as I do; 
and you know I am like a fish, in the water. 
Good-bye! We shall meet again, soon.” 

For a moment was heard the sound of his 
quick step upon the street; and then stillness 
prevailed in the little chamber and out of doors — 
the drowsy stillness of the Summer noon. In 
the little room, the heat was oppressive. The 
flies buzzed. Lena’s needle flew. She was happy 
at what she had heard from her brother; and 
earnestly she prayed that God would make him 
the means of blessing to her mother. 

3 







III. 



GOD MOVES IN A MYSTERIOUS WAY. 

jfS Mrs. Stark lay tossing upon her bed, 
! her mind was racked with conflicting 
thoughts and emotions. Her son’s 
words — but, yet more, his beaming look 
when he spoke of what he had heard and 
felt at church — had sunk into her heart; 
but should she rejoice or fear? Was it God 
working in him — God, for whom she felt a 
trembling awe — or was her happy boy to be a 
fanatic? 

However, she had one reason for joy: he did 
not participate in the carouse, and, perhaps, 
would never acquire a taste for such scenes. 
Too well she remembered a youth with the 
same clear, blue eyes, the same merry laugh. 
He was the ideal of her youth, and became her 
husband. His vivacity, during the first years 
of their married life, was never shaded. But a 
little cloud appeared upon their horizon. The 
34 


THE STARK FAMILY. 


35 


happy husband sometimes came home to his 
young wife in unnatural glee; but he asked her 
pardon, and consoled her with the assurance 
that it was nothing remarkable when a young 
man of his temperament, in a merry company, 
drank a little more than was good for him. 
The cloud grew, the horizon of her life was 
darkly overcast, the storm burst upon them, 
and the once happy home was soon a sorrowful 
ruin. The long experience of poverty, humil- 
iation, grief, bitterness, and misery, came up 
before her with frightful distinctness. 

Had Fritz found a means for conquering the 
temptations that ruined his father? 

Thus nearly an hour passed, when a hurried 
running upon the street gave to her thoughts a 
new direction. 

“Who can that be, running so in the heat? 
Lena, go see what it means,” said Mrs. Stark. 

“It is Carlie Bogren; he has gone in to Dr. 
Dahl’s.” 

“Well, you will see, then, that Mrs. Bogren 
has a fit. I have expected this a good while. 
I wonder who Mr. Bogren will get to take 
care of his large family. Has the doctor 
gone ?” 

“Yes; how he runs! but he has passed Mr. 
Bogren’s house,” replied Lena. 




3 6 LENA. 

“Well, don’t sit there,” said her mother; 
“find out where he is going. ” 

The daughter removed her geranium from the 
window, and leaned out. 

“They have passed the Judge’s corner, and 
I can ’t see them more,” said Lena, resuming 
her seat. 

“Well,” said the mother, “so Mrs. Bogren 
has n’t got a fit yet; but what can it be? How 
wrong it is to frighten the sick by running so 
through the street! What if the Judge has had 
another attack? But I should think Fritz would 
let us know, if any thing is the matter there. 
Can ’t you throw on your bonnet, and run out a 
little way? You will be sure to meet somebody 
of whom you can ask.” 

“Let me just finish these last button- 
holes,” said Lena; “then I can go with the 
shirts to the parsonage. I promised them 
to-day.” 

“O, well! I generally have to wait,” said 
Mrs. Stark, impatiently; and, turning to the 
wall, she tried to sleep. 

Lena continued at her sewing, but kept 
thinking of the little incident upon the street. 

Finally, her work being finished, she arose 
to comply with her mother’s wish, when, 
glancing from the window, she saw the Judge 




THE STARK FAMILY. 


37 


approaching. Her first impression was a feeling 
of pleasure that it was not he who had been 
taken ill; the next was surprise, on looking at 
him more closely. His countenance, naturally 
flushed and smiling, was very pale, and wore a 
look of anguish. His steps were slow and 
heavy, as if each one cost him an effort; and 
the nearer he came, the slower was his pace. 
He looked up to the window. Their eyes met. 
He stopped and beckoned; then covered his 
face with his hands, and burst into tears. 

For a moment, Lena stood motionless with 
astonishment ; at the next, she stood upon the 
street, beside the weeping man. She tried to 
speak; but her pale lips could only stammer, 

“ Fritz?” 

“Yes, Miss Lena; God help me!” exclaimed 
the Judge. “I was to come and prepare you, 
but I am unfit; and so Miss Lena understands 
at once.” 

“What?” said Lena. “I understand nothing. 
Is Fritz sick?” 

“No; he is dead.” 

“Dead!” Lena trembled violently; and she 
leaned against the porch. 

“I am so inconsiderate! Forgive me,” said 
the Judge. “I determined to speak very cau- 
tiously. He was drowned; or, no, he was not 


38 


LENA. 


drowned, but perished while bathing. The 
doctor says he has had a blow upon the temple, 
that must have killed him instantly. There was 
an old anchor lying under water, and he has a 
bruise upon his temple. He was diving, and 
called upon my sons to mark the time of his 
absence under water. He was gone too long; 
and Carl, who knows how to dive, went in after 
him, but soon came up, bringing the lifeless 
body to the surface with him. The poor boy 
was so frightened he could hardly get into the 
boat. Alfred cried for help, and some laborers, 
who were taking their noon rest under a shade 
near by, heard him, sprang into a boat, and 
rowed out to the boys. By means of boat- 
hooks they drew up poor Fritz, and brought 
him home, where, for fear of giving us too great 
a shock, they laid him upon a seat in the arbor. 
Just as they were bringing him into the garden, 
Carlie Bogren came along, and they sent him 
for the doctor. My wife and I were sitting in 
the passage, wondering why the boys were so 
late to their dinner, when they came rushing in, 
pale and weeping. And when we were told 
what had happened, alas, Miss Lena! it was as 
if he had been my own — the dear, dear boyj 
The doctor, who was on hand immediately, said 
that nothing could be done; but my wife went 


THE STARK FAMILY. 


39 


into a convulsion, and he had to remain with 
her, while I came here to prepare you, lest you 
should hear the dreadful tidings too suddenly. 
I meant to be very careful, yet told you so 
abruptly.” 

As he ceased speaking, big tears rolled down 
his cheeks, and the timid, retiring Lena threw 
her arms around his neck. A minute she gave 
free vent to her pain; but quickly her thoughts 
returned to her mother. 

They entered together. Again the old stair- 
way creaked, but not as when, a little while 
before, the joyous Fritz had trodden it. 

The sick one, who through the open window 
had heard their voices, without being able to 
understand the words spoken, lay in anxious 
suspense, yet feeling a kind of satisfaction in 
exciting herself to anger at Lena for her slow- 
ness, and was ready to attack with upbraidings, 
as soon as, the door should open. But the 
words died upon her lips as her eye fell upon 
the countenance of Lena, who seated herself 
beside the bed, and, taking her mother’s hand 
between her own trembling ones, whispered: 

“ Mother, pray God for subniission, and 
grace to enable you to bear the cross. His 
hand is upon us.” 

A deathly, paleness overspread the mother’s 


40 


LENA. 


countenance, and the sweat of anguish stood 
upon her forehead; but, in a voice clear and 
commanding, she exclaimed: 

‘‘Speak! tell all! You know I am strong.” 

“God has called Fritz to heaven,” said Lena. 

A wild shriek escaped the mother. 

“It is not true; it can’t be so,” she cried. 
“My child! Where is my child?” 

“He is with his Savior, mamma,” replied 
Lena. “Do you remember how happy he was 
when he spoke about what no eye hath seen 
and no ear heard? Ought we not to thank 
God for so soon letting him go to his blessed 
home?” 

“Thank? No, no; I can not thank! I can 
not bear this! it is too much, too much!” cried 
the mother. 

“Try to say, God be merciful to me a 
sinner !” whispered Lena. 

The mother became a little quiet — then ex- 
claimed, suddenly and violently: 

“You haven’t told me how he died. He 
was here just a little while ago, healthy and 
happy.” 

Lena beckoned to the Judge, who stood in 
the doorway. He approached, and, tenderly 
taking the mother’s hand, said: 

“God strengthen you! His chastisement is 


THE STARK FAMILY. 


41 


severe ! but if he lays a burden upon us, he will 
also help us to bear it.” 

Then, seating himself beside her, he told her 
all, concluding by begging the mournful priv- 
ilege of taking upon himself what must follow. 

While he was speaking, the bereaved mother 
lay staring at him fixedly — deep, convulsive 
sighs being her only manifestation of life ; but, 
as he concluded, she began to tremble violently, 
the hitherto tearless eyes filled with tears, and 
she wept — wept as one does when it seems as 
if the heart has swelled to bursting with its 
over-measure of pain. 

Reader, hast thou ever thus experienced how 
an aching despair can, by some tender word 
from a warm, loving heart, be transformed to a 
grief that finds relief in tears? 

The Judge now tenderly bade them adieu; 
and Lena sat upon a stool, reclining her head 
against the bed, absorbed in thought upon the 
blessedness of her brother, who, with 'contest so 
soon ended, could now exultingly exclaim: 

“The snare is broken, and the bird set free!” 

O, when should it be thus with her? Her 
imagination pictured a long, long way, darker 
and more difficult than ever; then, lifting her 
head and looking cheerfully forward, she saw 
that a few steps more or less mattered little, so 


42 


LENA. 


long as the goal was sure. She would not 
murmur if God yet longer made use of her 
upon earth. Was it not a privilege to be al- 
lowed to serve him who had borne her sins, 
and whose love was her » blessed inheritance in 
time and eternity? 

She was wakened from her reveries by the 
voice of her mother. 

“Lena, Lena,” said she, “you are right. I 
need to cry, God be merciful to me a sinner! 
He has crushed my proud self-righteousness. 
I have boasted of my strength — I, frail, mis- 
erable creature of the dust. So he has laid 
upon me this great affliction, which I can not 
endure. No, Lord, I can not. Give me back 
my child!” 

And the violent look of despair returned. 

“That is so, mamma,” said Lena; “it is 
impossible to carry the burden of both grief 
and sin. But do n’t you remember Jesus said, 

‘ Come unto me, all ye who labor and are heavy 
laden, and I will give you rest?’ ” 

“Yes; but I can not come,” said the mother. 
“Alas! I am too much a stranger to him. It 
is humiliating for me to acknowledge this to 
you, whom I have so often silenced when you 
wished to speak to me of him. I have told 
you that I understood these things better than 


TIIE STARK FAMILY. 


43 


you did. I was too proud to learn of you. 
You knew this well enough; but what you did 
not know was, how I suffered from envy of your 
peace.” 

“Poor mamma,” said Lena, “how unhappy 
you have been ! Why have you not fled to the 
cross ?” 

“I have tried to pray,” said the mother; 
“but I fear my prayers have done me more 
harm than good. I have either read prayers 
that were only words to which my heart was a 
stranger, or have spoken from it bitter words 
of murmuring. It is no easy matter for me to 
go to Christ.” 

“O mamma! He has already come to 
you,” said Lena. “See, he stands at the door 
of your heart and knocks! Let us pray to- 
gether.” 

Arid in simple, warm language, Lena prayed 
for both, that their grief might be made to 
them a blessing; and that they might come 
to dwell together in the land of rest, where 
the beloved son and brother had now preceded 
them. 

The mother whispered, “Amen!” and Lena 
believed she saw the answer of her prayer 
that God would make Fritz a means of blessing 
to her mother; but how differently from what 


44 


LENA. 


she had expected did the answer come ! She 
had pictured for him a long, useful life, and 
now she saw that through his death the blessing 
was to be. 

Lena hoped that now her mother would 
better understand her, and that their life hence- 
forward would be one of harmony; but “the 
Old Adam” was, in Mrs. Stark, as tenacious 
of life as in other of Adam’s children. Her 
natural disposition still became manifest, and, 
although she struggled to subdue this enemy, 
peace was often disturbed by it. But to Lena 
a greater trial than this, to which she always 
had been accustomed, was the difference that 
now appeared in their religious tastes. The 
quiet character of Lena’s life, which spoke 
not in words, but was stamped upon all her 
actions, corresponded not with the mother’s 
restless desire for conversation ; and the daugh- 
ter was often upbraided for her inactivity and 
silence, while she, on the contrary, wearied 
of all the nonsensical prattle upon religious 
subjects, introduced to the house by well- 
meaning but simple-minded and talk -loving 
friends. 

Thus, in work and contest, passed many 
years; but peace came at last. Both mother 
and daughter were earnest Christians, and, as 




Aunt Lena and her Mother 



































. 

















































































■v V ,* 















































• % 






t 

- 






► 

* 

• . 

• ’ 













* 


















THE STARK FAMILY. 


45 


their experience grew, they came nearer each 
other ; so that, ere death terminated Mrs. 
Stark’s many years of suffering, entire harmony 
prevailed in the little home. 


N. 






dljhptefi IV. 

THE DAWN OF A NEW DAY. 

Mf LRE AD Y has the reader’s patience been 
too long taxed with the picture of a life 
so obscure as was that of Lena. We 
4)j|P pass, therefore, the many years succeed- 
ed ing her mother’s death, which were spent 
‘ by her in assisting her friends in their 
various concerns of life. Now she made the 
bridal wreath, now mended the linen, hung the 
curtains, made the preserves, etc. ; but most 
appreciated was Lena’s presence by the sick- 
bed and in the house of mourning. Many, 
who in days of prosperity and health found the 
“good lady” somewhat tiresome and one-sided, 
stretched their arms longingly toward her in 
hours of pain and sorrow. 

We now find her in the house of merchant 
Stark, to which her entrance was made a few 
days after the death of her sister-in-law; and 
with firm hand did she here seize the reins, to 
46 




THE STARK FAMILY. 


47 


the great advantage and well-being of the house, 
although to the great dissatisfaction of the serv- 
ants, who, during the previous weak manage- 
ment, had lived in unrestricted liberty. Even 
old Kirsten, who, in virtue of her quality as 
chamber-maid to the merchant in his bachelor 
days, and afterward nurse in his family, was 
accustomed to give free vent to her sever- 
ity, had to resign to the quiet strength of 
Lena. 

“Come, Axel,” said the merchant, “this is 
Aunt Lena,, who has come to take care of 
my little children in mother’s place. Come and 
greet her.” 

Axel looked into Lena’s face scrutinizingly, 
as he extended his tiny hand. 

“But, papa.” said he, “she isn’t like mam- 
ma. I would rather go to my own mamma in 
heaven.” 

“My little friend,” said Lena, with a smile 
that won the child’s confidence, “that is just 
where we shall go together. Every day, we 
will knock at the door of heaven, and ask to be 
let in; but perhaps God will keep us waiting 
many years; and then we mustn’t be impatient, 
but good, obedient children, doing cheerfully all 
that he commands us.” 

“But how can we knock at the door of 

I - 


48 


LENA. 


heaven? It is so far up there,” said Axel, 
looking inquiringly at Lena. 

“With our prayers, dear,” said Lena. “Jesus 
has promised that God will hear us; and you 
know that what he promises is always sure.” 

“Yes, mamma told me so,” said Axel, con- 
fidingly. 

Their conversation was interrupted, but had 
already laid, in Axel’s heart, the foundation 
of a warm friendship for aunty, and a feeling 
of safety in her presence. 

Soon after the funeral, the home of the Stark 
family assumed a different and brighter aspect. 
All vestige of sickness was removed; each nook 
and corner dusted, aired, and arranged. The 
uncomfortable nursery was abandoned; and the 
large chamber, that, with its heavy bed-curtains, 
had seemed so dark, was transformed to a nurs- 
ery, where merry plays took the place of the 
sighs and tears that before had so often sought 
concealment in its solitude. 

Was, then, the young wife and mother already 
forgotten? No. One corner there was inaccess- 
ible to the sun of heaven and brushes of earth. 
It was the heart of the husband. The merchant, 
more than formerly, gave himself to the society 
of his children. His sorrow was too deep for 
the cold atmosphere of business life. His soul 


THE STARK FAMILY. 


49 


needed warmth; and, as the word of the highest 
love was to him a dark saying, he sought it in 
the reflection of the divine that met him in the 
souls of his children. Hour after hour would 
he sit watching them, and listening to Axel’s 
merry prattle; and sometimes there came a sigh 
at thought of how soon was effaced from the 
child-heart the grief that had ‘taken such deep 
root in his. 

One day, he was sitting thus, watching Axel 
arrange his soldiers for a great parade, when 
sister Elsie, with a push, struck the whole regi- 
ment to the ground. Axel cried loudly, and 
was in the act of punishing the breach of peace, 
but immediately repented, and exclaimed: 

“That’s nothing! I forgive you, little sister. 
Mamma said I must love you, and I do. I shall 
always be kind to you.” 

The thought of his mother brought a shade 
of sadness over his face. After some silence, 
he suddenly turned to the father, and said: 

“Papa, do you long as much as mamma did 
to go to Jesus?” 

The question was so unexpected, and sounded 
so strangely to the merchant’s ear, that he could 
give no answer, and felt quite distressed before 
the child. To say “Yes,” he knew too well 
would be an untruth; and from a negative, his 


50 


LENA. 


heart recoiled. His answer, therefore, became 
an evasive question. 

“Why do you ask me this, my boy?” 

“Well, I was thinking how beautiful it must 
be there; and it would be the very best thing, 
if we could all live there together. Mamma 
sometimes read to me about heaven. How is 
it that it stands in the Bible about the white 
clothes, and all the beautiful things ?” 

“I don’t know quite how it stands,” replied 
the father, yet more confused by the boy’s ques- 
tion. “You must ask Aunt Lena about it. I 
have no time to sit here longer. Good-bye, lit- 
tle ones.” 

With redoubled zeal, he now engaged in 
business, hoping thereby to divert his mind, 
not only from grief, but from certain questions 
that began to stir within him. 

Earth, with its multitudinous cares, had, 
until now, wholly engrossed his attention; yet 
he was no skeptic. No, he acknowledged that 
quite surely there must be one who was “The 
Most High,” an arranging, ruling power, guid- 
ing the destinies of men and measuring the 
courses of the stars, but to whom he, the indi- 
vidual, felt so small and foreign, that although, 
indeed, full of awe, he bowed before him in the 
distance, he felt no desire to approach him. 


THE STARK FAMILY. 


51 


Now arose the question, Was his belief faith? — 
the faith that enabled his wife, with a smile of 
hope, to meet death; that spoke in the quiet 
look with which his sister contemplated life; 
that sounded so pleasantly from the lips of his 
child, as it folded the little hands in prayer, and 
then slumbered so sweetly, as if in conscious- 
ness that the blessing prayed for rested over it. 
No! Their relationship to God must be quite 
different from that in which he stood to him; 
but this was natural. Could he feel like a 
woman or a child? He, who, from earliest 
youth, had been accustomed to rely upon him- 
self, and, through his own diligent efforts, had 
attained an independent and honorable position 
in society — had he not full right to an inner 
independence? Reason and self-righteousness 
answered: “Yes; the weak may pray for grace; 
to the strong, it were more becoming to try to 
earn it. Live on, blameless as ever. Perform 
thy duty as well as thou canst. God demands 
not more of thee.” Thus he reasoned, endeav- 
oring, on false foundations and crooked conclu- 
sions, to rear a structure inside whose walls he 
could escape the voice of God. 

Lena surmised that the struggle was begun 
in her brother’s heart, and longed to reach 
out to him a helping hand; but, whenever she 


52 


LENA. 


sought to engage him in conversation suited to 
this purpose, his replies were so short and eva- 
sive as to cause her to retire from the effort, 
understanding that he was unwilling to open his 
heart to her, and fearing, by unseasonable con- 
versation, to do more harm than good. She 
had been brought to believe without seeing, and 
now, in faith, submitted into the hands of the 
Lord her care for the spiritual welfare of her 
brother, praying for him and for herself that 
grace might be given her so to live as to cause 
no hinderance or stumbling-block upon his path. 



\ 



dl^ptef V. 

SUMMER IN THE COUNTRY. 

HUS quietly to the members of the 
Stark household did the years pass 
away. Industry and order pervaded 
e home, and the spirit of prayer rested 
J over it. 

Unweariedly, in all respects, did Lena 
watch over the children confided to her care and 
protection; and her efforts were crowned with 
success. No one could show a finer, healthier 
boy than was Axel, when, after the expiration 
of six years, again we see him, with blooming 
cheeks and a look so open and honest as to 
cause one to feel that no falsehood has ever 
compelled him to drop his eye. We will not 
assert that he, although a knight without fear, 
was always without reproach. That his Viking 
inclination led him into many adventures not 
agreeing with the precepts of school discipline, 
nor his aunt’s admonitions concerning his clothes, 



54 


LENA. 


we are forced to acknowledge ; for pants, blouses, 
and caps spoke for themselves. 

As to Elsie, we may consider her as a new 
acquaintance. The little tottering babe is now 
a fine, light -haired, blue -eyed girl of seven, 
graceful in every movement. 

Lena we find again, untouched by time, as 
erect and diligent as six years before. Perhaps 
the years have sprinkled a little more silver in 
her hair; but, if so, no one notices it. 

It is Spring, at least according to the Alma- 
nac, when we make this visit to merchant Stark. 

Axel has just concluded a lively description 
of a school-recess battle, with snow-balls, and 
other masculine feats, which, to a less heroic 
comprehension, would seem pretty nearly allied 
to street fights. 

Elsie, although full of admiration for the 
courage of her brother, ventured to remark: 

“Fie! to be always fighting so much!” 

“O, there is no harm in it,” replied Axel. 

“Yes; it is unchristian,” said Elsie, looking 
wise. 

“No, indeed, it isn’t,” replied Axel. “It 
belongs to the duties of a Christian school-boy 
to teach his comrades morals. If any one be- 
haves foolishly, he must be punished. You 
must n’t think me such a rooster as to do all I 


THE STARK FAMILY. 


55 


can to get into a fight. No; if I fight, it is 
either for honor or duty!” and, as he spoke, the 
fun beamed so from his eyes that even Aunt 
Lena could not preserve her gravity, although 
she shared not in his opinion of the Christian 
fight. 

“That you fight for honor when you throw 
snowballs, I can partly understand,” said she; 
“but when does duty impel you to do so?” 

, “ O, that isn’t so seldom,” replied Axel. 

“When I see a big boy attack a little one, or 
when Will Asp plagues the cats, and such 
things.” 

“And do n’t you try to talk with them when 
they do so?” asked his aunt, 

“Sometimes,” replied Axel; “but then they 
only tease me, and call me the protector.” 

“And then you flog them, do you, from a 
pure sense of duty, and without desire for re- 
venge?” continued the aunt. 

“Yes, I have believed so. Perhaps I was 
mistaken,” replied Axel. “I shall think about 
it more carefully next time.” 

And, to avoid further questioning, he sprang 
up and drew Elsie with him, declaring that she 
certainly needed a little exercise. 

The same day, at dinner, Mr. Stark remarked 
that he had purchased a place in the country. 


LENA. 


56 


“Indeed! Are you going to undertake 
farming?” asked Lena, surprised. 

“No,” replied the merchant. “It is a very 
small affair. The whole consists of only two 
and a half acres, including the garden, three 
acres of birch wood, a building of four rooms 
besides the kitchen, and place for two more 
rooms in the attic.” 

“Where is it?” 

“Beside the Maelar, about three miles from 
the city. The former owner was in distress for 
money, and his description of the rural quiet- 
ness of his little farm induced me to buy it. It 
will be good for the children out there — myself 
too — to get a little rest now and then;” and, 
with an appearance of fatigue, he stroked the 
thin, light hair over his bald pate. 

“Shall we move into the country?” asked 
Axel, who had been an eager listener to the 
conversation. 

“Yes; aunty and you children will go and 
live there during the Summer. I shall have to 
be contented with a visit to you now and 
then,” answered the father. “Some repairs 
may be necessary, and I think of going out 
there to-morrow. So, if the weather is fine, 
may be aunty and you little folks would like to 
go with me.” 


THE STARK FAMILY. 


57 


An outburst of joy from the children was 
the response, while even Aunt Lena appeared 
much pleased with the invitation. 

And the weather was fine. The sun shone 
beautifully bright, as is usual on pleasant days 
in the beginning of March, when its rays induce 
tears from the snow and blushes from the 
birch-trees. 

The horses trotted gayly, drawing the capa- 
cious wagon which contained our friends through 
the noisy streets of the city, out upon the coun- 
try road. The children were amused and enliv- 
ened by all they heard and saw on this, their 
first highly, interesting trip. Each insignificant 
occurrence gave rise to questions and merriment; 
yet thought and fancy were mostly occupied 
with the . aim of the journey — the new Summer 
home. It was not without a feeling of disap- 
pointed anticipation that they finally stopped 
before a small, yellow, one-story house, sur- 
rounded by stunted gooseberry -bushes, and 
heard that this was “Larkheim.” However, 
the site was advantageous, the sea near, and the 
wood — or, rather, the birch grove — handsome. 
The rooms were dilapidated, but high and airy; 
and when the children heard of all the improve- 
ments to be made by carpenters and painters, 
and that a gardener living in the vicinity was to 


58 


LENA. 


rearrange the garden so as to render it more 
deserving the name, they soon saw all in rose- 
colored light, and laid happy plans for the 
Summer’s amusements. 

In the latter part of May the little country- 
seat was ready, and, in its cozy simplicity, 
looked really inviting. Whole, neat, and taste- 
ful must every thing be that belonged to mer- 
chant Stark — this was necessary to success; but 
his indulgence in the luxury of country life must 
be in strict frugality. 

The costly furniture was left in the city. 
Here all was new, but of the simplest character. 
The cook was offended; and Miss Lisette, the 
housekeeper, could n’t understand what Mr. 
Stark was thinking about, to bring himself down 
to the use of birch furniture, and not have ‘a 
decent looking-glass in the whole house. Yet 
this reproach from the region of the kitchen did 
not disturb the enjoyment of the family. 

It is Saturday evening, the first one in their 
new home. The merchant, with countenance 
particularly cheerful, is sitting upon the teeter- 
board, under one of the birches, smoking a 
cigar; while Lena sits near by, busy at her 
knitting^ and the children are skipping gayly 
around for flowers. 

“Do you know, Lena,” said the merchant, 


THE STARK FAMILY. 


59 


“this is the best movement I have ever made. 
It is -a pleasure to see the children enjoying so 
much freedom, and I feel enlivened, both in 
body and mind.” 

“Yes,” said Lena, “it is delightful to see 
the wonders of God in nature. On a pleasant 
Spring day, like this, there seems, each hour, 
new cause for grateful adoration.” 

“You are right,” replied her brother. “I 
confess that, when I concluded to make this 
purchase, the thought occured to me that here 
I should come a little nearer God than I have 
been.” 

“As Creator, he is certainly more manifest 
to us here than in the city,” said Lena; “but 
if we know him not as a Savior and Reconciler, 
our distance from him remains as great as ever.” 

“Do you think so? I do n’t feel that way,” 
said the brother. “When I heard Elsie, this 
morning, saying ‘Our Father,’ it made an en- 
tirely new impression upon me. ‘Our Father!’ 
These are remarkable words. They have sounded 
in my ears ever since; and, they seem so child- 
like, I imagine that I hear them repeated in the 
blending of a thousand voices. Yes; if God is 
my Father, I would like to know him better 
than I do. My Sovereign he has always been; 
but the knowledge of him as such has long been 


6o 


LENA. 


unsatisfactory. I have carried with me a dis- 
quiet that I feared to frame into words. When 
shall it become otherwise?” 

There was a touching seriousness in this con- 
fession, which so unexpectedly had burst from 
the chains of many years’ silence. Lena placed 
her hand upon her brother’s arm, and said: 

“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou 
shalt be saved, and thy house.” 

The merchant made no reply, and silence 
ensued. Peace rested over the surrounding land- 
scape. The children, in their search for flowers, 
had gone so far away that their voices were no 
longer heard. Even the light rustle of the birch 
leaves was hardly perceptible. The sea lay 
calmly reflecting the deep blue sky of Spring. 

Lena felt God’s presence, not alone in maj- 
esty, as expressed in the grand simplicity of 
Scripture, “The Spirit of God moved upon the 
face of the waters;” but also near, with its gra- 
cious call in the sinful, human heart of her 
brother. O, would there the holy word of crea- 
tion sound, “Let there be light?” 

The merchant’s head had dropped in thought. 
Lena could not see his countenance, but she 
knew what was passing in his soul. 

Finally he arose, buttoned his coat, saying: 

“I believe it is becoming cool. Please call 


THE STARK FAMILY. 


6 1 


in the children; they will easily take cold;” and, 
without looking at Lena, he entered the house. 

Thus ended the conversation that awoke such 
glad anticipations in the patient sister. But let 
us not judge too hastily. 

Why did the merchant stare away so as he 
spoke? Was it to hide two tears that strove to 
make their downward course from behind his 
spectacles? And why this hurry to enter the 
house? Can it be that he is taking from his 
pocket a little worn book, long concealed there 
as a memento of his wife? Until now it has 
been to him only a reminder of the departed 
one; will he now seek therein the well of life? 
We are not Certain ; but let us hope. Lena did so. 

To the table the children came, with fresh 
appetites and spirits. They had had a splendid 
time, and made the most remarkable discoveries. 
When hunger was appeased, fatigue came, and 
the time for good-night; but, evidently, there 
was something that the merchant wished to say. 
He opened his mouth and shut it again, coughed 
a little short yet prolonged cough, and began: 

“I would wish — I wonder if you wouldn’t 
like that — we should read a little, before we 
separate. It seems to me it would be proper 
to consecrate our new home with an evening 
prayer.” 


62 


LENA. 


With joyful emotion, Lena accepted the pro- 
posal, and the children became wide awake and 
surprised. It was a peaceful, blessed evening 
hour — the first of many, many such experienced 
there. To Lena it was like the mount of trans- 
figuration, and, with the disciples, she w r as ready 
to exclaim, “Lord, it is good to be here.” The 
merchant bowed humbly. He, too, felt the pres- 
ence of his Lord and Master ; but not as did the 
open-hearted Peter, when in holy ecstasy he ven- 
tured to speak with his Lord. No; but like the 
same Peter at the solemn moment of the call, 
when he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, 
“Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O 
Lord!” And as with the fisherman at Gennes- 
aret, so was it here. The same voice whispered 
to the trembling heart, “Fear not!” Even the 
children felt strangely affected. Axel, with his 
dark, thoughtful eyes, looked searchingly into 
his father’s face, as if there to find out what was 
passing. Elsie felt that childish rest in the sense 
of God’s presence, that intuitive conception of 
the Holy, pictured by Raphael; but which words 
can not represent. 



CJ 1] h p t e f VI. 4 


THE TUTOR. 



|fN Monday morning, Mr. Stark returned 
to the city and his business. After the 
IIP- father’s departure, the children were re- 
minded that for them also the working 
days had begun, wherefore books, slates, 
and writing materials were taken out. 


Elsie’s education was as yet in its earliest 
stage, its guidance wholly the work of Lena, 
who, like her brother, entertained a real dread 
of “schools for girls.” Axel had already been 
two years a member of the Clara School, in 
Stockholm, and considered himself a pretty sci- 
entific sort of individual, when before aunt and 
Elsie his erudition shone. 

Now it was arranged, that, during the Sum- 
mer, the instruction of both Axel and Elsie 
should be intrusted to a young relative, Thor- 
sten Holt, who had just completed his collegi- 
ate course, and who, by the recent death of his 

63 



6 4 


LENA. 


father, had made the sad but common discov- 
ery, that, instead of being an heir to wealth, he 
stood in the world alone and poor. Thorsten’s 
father and merchant Stark were cousins, and in 
early youth had been on terms of particular 
friendship. Afterward they became separated, 
not only by distance — Mr. Holt settling in one 
of the Southern towns of Sweden — but by dif- 
ference of taste and opinion. While merchant 
Stark, as well in private as in business life, pur- 
sued an even, quiet course, Holt’s life resembled 
a splendid fire-work. He kept a sumptuous es- 
tablishment, made a brilliant match, large spec- 
ulations, and — suffered great losses. His wife 
died early. When himself felt death approach- 
ing, and realized in what an unfortunate con- 
dition he must leave his only child, his last 
request to Thorsten was that he should turn to 
Mr. Stark for advice and assistance. When, 
therefore, the young man had passed his senior 
examination, he wrote to this unknown relative, 
offering, as apology for doing so, his father’s 
dying wish, and stating his design to seek a sit- 
uation as tutor, to which end, referring to the 
inclosed certificate, he solicited the recommen- 
dation of Mr. Stark. The reply was a friendly 
invitation to come to the merchant as instructor 
of his children, and consider their home as his 


THE STARK FAMILY. 


65 


own. The offer was received with gratitude, 
and Thorsten wrote that he should soon appear. 

To prepare themselves for his reception, rather 
than for work, Axel and Elsie were now busily 
engaged in arranging their books. Where was 
to be the study-room was a problem difficult to 
solve; for the small house contained none that 
could be spared for this purpose. The chambers 
had been fitted up as sleeping apartments — one 
for the merchant, the other for Axel and the 
expected tutor. Finally, it was decided that the 
mental should unite with the physical in the use 
of the dining-room. A table was placed at one 
of the windows, and a book-shelf in the corner 
beside it. 

The children’s share in this arrangement 
being completed, liberty to roam was again 
obtained, a hill that arose behind the birch 
grove being their prescribed limit. An old oak, 
that had not as yet donned its green Summer 
dress, with wide-spread arms beckoned them up- 
ward for a look around; and, sure enough, it 
might be worth while to go ! The beautiful 
Maelar Bay lay radiant in the sunshine, whose 
light presented the changing beauty of the 
shore in munificent splendor of colors, inter- 
rupted here and there by projecting granite 
rocks and groups of somber needle-trees. Sev- 


66 


LENA. 


eral country-seats seemed, in the distance, trans- 
formed from stately villas to unpretending cot- 
tages. Beyond the hill was seen the broad 
turnpike with its equestrians and pedestrians, 
and a distance further the sea, upon which 
came hissing onward a small steamer, which 
took the children’s undivided attention. It was 
quickly approaching shore, and would certainly 
land at their quay, as the children called it, 
although the quay was at some distance from 
Larkheim, and belonged really to a larger 
country-seat in the neighborhood. A steamer 
stopped here only in case it contained some 
passenger wishing to land, or was signaled to 
do so from the shore. 

“What if it should be Thorsten Holt who 
has come!” exclaimed Elsie. 

“We must watch and see who steps ashore,” 
said Axel. 

The little steamer drew up to the landing, 
and a young man wearing the student cap 
sprang upon it, carrying with him a hat-case 
and valise. A trunk followed, and the steamer 
hurried away. There now stood the young 
man, looking around, in order to determine 
his course and discover some person to carry 
his trunk, when his eye fell upon a boy who 
was near, fishing. 


THE STARK FAMILY. 67 

“Here, boy!” he called; “will you come and 
help me?” 

The boy was quite heedless of the call, hardly 
bestowing as much as a look in return. 

“Would you like to earn some money?” the 
traveler again shouted. 

This call produced a quite different effect from 
the former. The fishing-rod was laid down, and 
the young fisherman hastened toward the gentle- 
man, who seemed amused at the eagerness with 
which the response was made to the offer of 
money. Human weaknesses were as yet only 
a study that interested without disturbing him. 
He saw these in others, rather than in himself, 
and so could smile at them. 

“Can you carry this trunk?” he asked. 

“Certainly,” answered the boy. 

“Can you show me the way to Mr. Stark’s 
country-seat?” 

“No; I never heard of such a place.” 

“Do you know a place called Larkheim?” 

“Yes; it’s one of the houses over there.” 

“Indeed! Well, let us start for it, then.” 

Meanwhile, the children, convinced that the 
stranger was their expected teacher, descended 
the hill, and reached the turnpike just as he was 
passing the birch grove. 

On seeing them, he stopped and asked Axel: 


68 


LENA. 


“Can you tell me, my boy, which of those 
places is Larkheim?” 

“Yes; it is just this one here,” replied Axel. 

“Mr. Stark’s residence?” 

“Yes.” 

“The little rural cottage there? Impossible!” 
said the young man. 

Axel blushed, and answered, proudly: 

“It is as possible as that I am his son.” 

“Well! well! Pardon me, my little relative; 
I meant no harm. I only expected to see a dif- 
ferent style. Then you are Axel Stark, and this 
is little — ” 

“Elsie,” replied the little girl, looking up, 
timidly. 

“Yes, that’s the name,” continued the young 
man, “and mine is Thorsten Holt. I bring you 
papa’s greeting. I was with him an hour ago.” 

Axel, who had become a little out of humor 
at the somewhat depreciative manner in which 
Thorsten expressed his surprise at the appear- 
ance of Larkheim, and, too, entertained an un- 
pleasant suspicion that he had given a pert 
reply, had gone in advance, under pretense of 
hastening to Aunt Lena with tidings of Thor- 
sten’ s arrival. With the instinct of her sex, 
Elsie felt -that she must say something to efface 
any impression that may have been produced 


THE STARK FAMILY. 


69 


by Axel’s appearance; and, although she could 
not think of any thing more to offer than “You 
are welcome!” she spoke in such a childishly 
hearty manner that the visitor’s countenance 
assumed a look of grateful pleasure which was 
quite becoming to him. 

Thorsten Holt had a prepossessing exterior: 
there was an elasticity and grace in all his move- 
ments that spoke of refined culture, health, and 
vigor. The features of his face were not really 
handsome, but harmonized, and produced a good 
effect. The nose had a certain inclination to lift 
a little higher than necessary, and always, on 
doing so, was followed by a smile which some 
thought ironical, others judged according to 
their individual conceptions of it; but which, to 
most persons, was displeasing. He had also 
another smile, with which all were not familiar — 
a smile that broke forth like the sun through a 
cloud, spreading warmth and light. It was this 
smile that was produced by Elsie’s greeting. 

“Thank you, little Elsie,” he replied. “How 
old are you?” 

“Seven years,” was the .reply. 

“Then I am to teach you the A, B, C?” he 
continued. 

The graduate did not seem to relish the idea 
of this employment. 


70 


LENA. 


“No, sir,” replied Elsie, “I can read. I 
know the little Catechism by heart, and Part 
First in the big Bible History, and I have stud- 
ied grammar some.” 

“O! then you are quite a scholar.” 

“Axel knows much more than I do,” con- 
tinued the child. “He has so many books! 
Some of them even aunty has never read, and 
she is so old!” 

“Does aunty read much?” asked Thorsten. 

“Not so very much,” replied Elsie. “She 
reads the Bible every day, and the papers, and 
she reads, too, in some thick books that I do n’t 
know the' names of ; I only know that the 
reading in them is about God.” 

“O, is she of that kind?” said Thorsten, 
merrily; but it must not be supposed that the 
exclamation was one of satisfaction. 

They had now arrived at the house, and 
were received by Aunt Lena, who thought, not 
without a certain disquiet, of the little attic 
chamber, when she saw the elegant young man. 

The rural home, however, produced a better 
impression on the mind of Thorsten than he 
had anticipated It was so unlike the home of 
his childhood, where all was brilliant and impos- 
ing, but order and comfort were wanting. 

Of his mother he had no recollection. In 


THE STARK FAMILY. 


71 


his home he had been more as a guest than as 
a child. Now here, now there, he had been 
sent for education, and only occasionally in the 
year, a few weeks at a time, had he been with 
his father, whose house was managed by a pas- 
sionate housekeeper. 

To be sure, Lena at first seemed to him 
somewhat reserved; but soon he learned how 
much good will and kindness dwelt inside the 
stiff exterior. Thorsten, like so many young 
people, had a panical dread of the so-called * 
“religious;” but, to his surprise, he found in 
Lena a character, intelligent, cheerful, and quiet, 
quite unlike the compound of sugar and vinegar 
of which he imagined the leading features of a 
religionist were composed. Sure it was that, 
whenever a careless jest was passing his lips, it 
stopped half-way, on meeting her earnest look; 
and, queerly enough, at such a time, he would 
feel vexation with himself, and not at her. 

From the first moment, Elsie felt called upon 
to stand as arbiter between Thorsten and Axel, 
who was often angered by the satirical fun of 
the former, and, in his upwelling vehemence, 
wanted little of giving vent to his emotions, as 
he did among his comrades, in a palpable way. 
Her pleasant, complying manners often chased 
from Thorsten’s countenance the scornful smile, 


72 


LENA. 


producing there, instead, a something resembling 
sunshine, and which exerted over Axel, too, its 
magical influence, causing him to forget his inju- 
ries, and listen to Elsie’s fervent assurances that 
Thorsten was “so kind.” 

When the merchant came at the close of the 
week, he found, to his pleasure, that Thorsten 
was quite at home and contented. Yes, even 
more independently at home than was strictly 
agreeing with good etiquette, since he could sit 
in the parlor with his chair tipped, or half re- 
clining upon the sofa, while reading a newspa- 
per — so unlike the merchant, who sat there erect 
and orderly, as if bach moment expecting to 
hear a photographer call, “Now!” So, when 
Lena was alone with her brother, he could not 
help saying: 

“Young people didn’t use to throw them- 
selves into chairs in such a position when I was 
young.” 

“It is long since we were young,” answered • 
Lena. “Times are changed. What is required 
of youth is quite otherwise than it used to be. 

To be sure, Thorsten has a habit of sitting in 
an indifferent manner, and taking various little 
liberties; but he can render himself most agree- 
ably attentive to others. He is unselfish; and 
the interest he manifests in the instruction of 


THE STARK FAMILY. 


73 


the children seems to me so great that I value 
him more than I should, if, without these quali- 
ties, he were a model of etiquette.” 

“O, I don’t dislike him, and hope it may be 
so that I can be as a father to him,” replied 
Mr. Stark. “May you, Lena, be enabled to lead 
him to become a Christian! He is young, and 
ought to be much more easily guided than I, a 
sinner hardened with age.” 

“What do you mean?” said Lena. 

“I mean, that, when I was here last, I en- 
joyed precious moments, in which I seemed 
near my Savior, but that I return dull and cold, 
unable to call back these feelings. I would like 
to become a living Christian; but it is too late. 
I am spiritually dead,” said the merchant, in a 
tone of despair. 

“Such a feeling is hard to endure,” said 
Lena; “but, believe me, when it is accompa- 
nied by so much disquietude and grief, it is no 
sign of death. Do n’t let distrust get place in 
your heart, but haste with your burden to the 
only Helper. Think less upon what you feel 
than upon the greatness of the grace that is 
offered you.” 

“It is easier to say than to do,” was the 
reply. “I have not your experience. To be 
sure, it has become so with me that I enjoy 


74 


LENA. 


listening to God’s truth. During the week, I 
have thought much upon the sermon to which 
we listened last Sunday; but, when I read my- 
self, or try to pray, my thoughts scatter, and I 
feel poor and unfit.” 

“To be allowed to listen to a pure, clear 
preaching of the Gospel is a great privilege,” 
replied Lena; “but we are too apt to let the 
word heard carry us away for the moment, 
rather than penetrate and remain in the heart; 
and to sit in one’s chamber, in prayer and med- 
itation, alone with God and Christ, is no less a 
privilege than the former. It is in moments 
thus spent one gets a foretaste of eternal bless- 
edness — the rest in God.” 

The merchant looked at his sister with sur- 
prise and reverence. Her face seemed radiant 
with a joy so exa.lted that involuntarily came 
to his mind what is written of Stephen: “And 
all that sat in the council saw his face, as it had 
been the face of an angel.” It was long since 
lie had heard these words; and never had he 
understood them as now. 

We will not follow the merchant, step by 
step, in the experiences through which he had 
to pass. His path was onward, although the 
obstacles that beset it often seemed to him too 
great to be overcome. Nor will we follow the 


THE STARK FAMILY. 


75 


work in the heart of Thorsten, who, in learning 
to love the peaceful Christian home, was also 
brought to comprehend the great truth, seem- 
ingly so simple, yet of which it is so difficult to 
conceive, that life without God, however brill- 
iant and eventful it may appear, is in reality 
poor and void; while, on the contrary, a life 
hid with Christ in God is rich and satisfying, 
however uneventfully it may pass. 

It was with regret, when Autumn came, that 
the family left their Summer resort to go to 
Winter quarters, in the elegant house in the 
city. Even the cook and Miss Lisette had 
found that the country has its charms, although 
they missed there the large mirrors, and other 
advantages of civilization. 

Thorsten was to return to Upsala, to enter 
upon his law course. The separation from his 
new friends cost his feelings more than, in his 
sense of dignity as a man and student, he was 
willing to manifest. This was to be his first 
leave-taking of a real home. 

On the evening before his departure, he sat 
listening to the wailing of the Autumn wind, 
which fell upon his ear as an accompaniment to 
his thoughts. His eyes had in this place, for 
the first time, been opened to view life in its 
true light. He must leave the quiet freedom 


76 . 


LENA. 


here, and go out alone amid the struggle of life. 
Here he had friends; but would he not, when 
away, be soon forgotten? His heart needed 
them; but they were so happy without him! 
He - was unnecessary — alone! alone! At this 
moment he felt a little caressing hand upon his 
arm. It belonged to Elsie, who stood there 
looking at him, her bright eyes filled with tears. 

“Why are you so sad?” said he, drawing her 
tenderly toward him. 

“Because you are going to leave us to-mor- 
row,” she replied. 

“God bless you, little one! Shall you miss 
me, when I am gone?” said Thorsten. 

“Yes, much; but you will come again on 
Christmas, will you not? O, that will be so 
nice, so nice!” said the little girl; and hope 
shone through her tears. 

“I don’t know whether I may,” answered 
Thorsten, looking at the merchant, who sat re- 
garding them over the top of his newspaper, 
which he now let drop in surprise, as he said: 

“What do you mean? Have I not, from 
the time of our first meeting, told you to con- 
sider my home as your own? Do you know so 
little of me as to suppose that I do not mean 
what I say? It was my earnest intention that 
you should do so, before ever I had seen you; 


THE STARK FAMILY. 


77 


and certainly, now, when you have become dear 
to us all, it is no less my wish that none of us 
should remember otherwise than that you have 
always belonged to us.” 

Thorsten sprang to his feet with a violence 
that was dangerous to chairs and tables, and 
embraced the merchant with a strength that 
almost alarmed him. 

“Thanks! thanks! my boy!” said he. “Let 
us now speak calmly of the future. Of course, 
you will spend the Christmas season with us, as 
also all your other vacations. Axel will have to 
go into school again; and as to Elsie, I think 
to have a daily governess for her while we are 
in the city. Here in the country, I will have 
no stranger; so, during the Summer months, I 
depend upon your assistance with both children.” 

While the merchant was speaking, he had 
adjusted his spectacles and composed himself 
from the effect of the embrace; but need we 
add that he was now again exposed to a similar 
eruption of gratitude? 



I — 







Clikptef VII. 


LEARNED, AND YET IGNORANT. 





■[GAIN we let some years roll by ere 
{ seeking our friends, and shall only cast 
a brief glance at what has transpired 


during this time. 


After Thorsten had taken his final ex- 
amination, he obtained a situation as sec- 
retary in the employ of the Government, and 
took up his abode in Stockholm, where he added 
to the occupation mentioned the tutorship of 
the Stark family. After the lapse of two years 
spent there, he was surprised by a letter from 
a friend of his father, a judge in Schonen, 
proffering him a position as colleague. He 
wrote: “I think, in a few years, to retire, and 
rest upon my laurels. The vacation I shall ask 
for will be a lasting one. If I find you efficient 
in your vocation, and we agree, I shall do. my 
best to have you appointed my successor. As 
you know, I am an old bachelor, with no one 
78 




THE STARK FAMILY. 79 

for whom to accumulate, so you can rest assured 
that my stipulations are not severe.” 

Thorsten’s emotions, as he read this letter, 
were far from unmixed. He had to acknowl- 
edge that the offer was both advantageous and 
honorable; but the thought of leaving Stock- 
holm and his home, of exchanging the life he 
was leading there for the society of an aged and 
probably fretful bachelor, was far from agreeable. 
However, concerning the acceptance of such an 
offer there could be no question. Axel had 
reached his eighteenth year, and was soon to 
enter the Upsala University, while the instruc- 
tion of Elsie, who was now thirteen, one would 
justly suppose ought to be resigned to a more 
appropriate guide than the young secretary of 
twenty-five. 

So he accepted, and took his departure, 
leaving behind much void, and carrying with 
him a rich harvest of pleasant recollections. 

The year following, Axel came home from 
Upsala, wearing the long-wished-for university- 
cap. Full of happiness, he depicted to his aunt 
and sister the new life upon which he had 
entered. 

“But, after all,” remarked Elsie, “the best 
best part of the life at the University is the 
beautiful singing there.” 


8o 


LENA. 


“I do not deny the power of that,” said 
Axel; “but it is not the best part of student 
life for me. No ; I have found a higher aim for 
my love. It is the world of truth, light, reason, 
whose treasures entice me with an allurement I 
can not describe.” 

“Be careful, Axel, that you are not enticed 
to idolatry. Make no search for light and truth 
that draws you away from Him who has said, 
‘I am the way, the truth, and the life,’” said 
his aunt, seriously, almost sternly. 

‘Am I not a Christian? It is just the sense 
of assurance that I stand upon firm ground that 
gives me courage to defy a world, if necessary,” 
said Axel, with a look of enthusiasm and pre- 
sumption. 

By his auditors he was regarded with feelings 
of an opposite character. Elsie looked upon 
him with one of exultation, bordering upon de- 
votion. He seemed to her as a hero in the 
cause of Christianity; a martyr, ready to offer 
his life for his faith. In fancy, she saw him with 
the saintly halo around his head. Lena, on the 
contrary, with her knowledge of the human 
heart, shook her head, and said: 

“Let him who thinketh he standeth take 
heed lest he fall.” 

“Aunt,” exclaimed Axel, “what have 1 


THE STARK FAMILY. 


8l 


said that could cause the disapproval you 
imply?” 

“Your words arouse a feeling of anxiety, 
rather than disapproval,” replied the aunt. 

“What!” said Axel, “do you think that 
search and science can hurt the Christian re- 
ligion?” 

“No, my dear,” replied the aunt; “to Chris- 
tianity I see no peril. ‘ Heaven and earth shall 
pass away, but my words shall not pass away,’ 
says the Lord, and his words endure forever; 
but I fear that your thirst for knowledge may 
induce you to go seeking after broken cisterns 
that can hold no water, to leave the simplicity 
in Christ and become absorbed in mere human 
subtilties. ” 

“Aunt, do you think the simplicity of Christ 
consists in ignorance and folly?” asked Axel, 
with warmth. 

“No; be it far from me, such a thought,” 
replied his aunt. “A living, progressive faith 
is already here upon earth — progressive, from 
one degree to another; but we must seek the 
wisdom from above in the light of the revealed 
Word, not in human thoughts or conceits.” 

Axel had no desire to lay down arms; yet 
he was silenced, more from esteem to the speaker 
than from conviction. 


6 


82 


LENA. 


Lena’s apprehension was often aroused dur- 
ing the Summer, although lulled whenever she 
looked into Axel’s clear, honest eyes, whose 
expression inspired so much confidence in the 
sincerity and, as she would fain hope, firmness 
of his character. With earnestness and fervency 
he participated in their daily devotions, and 
zealously assisted Elsie in her plans for the ex- 
tension and improvement of the garden. Now 
he was his aunt’s own precious boy, and she 
reproached herself for her fears; but then came 
some shadow or another in the form of infidel 
writings, in the perusal of which she found him 
absorbed. 

* 

At first she tried advice and warning; but 
the resistance which he offered was determined. 
“One has no right to judge without hearing. I 
will penetrate each nook of this labyrinth of in- 
fidelity, so as to be able to repulse the lie,” he 
proudly answered. So she retired, and kept 
her anxieties to herself, not even communicating 
them to her brother, as he seemed himself to 
perceive no peril; and, besides, she felt sure 
that, were she to acquaint him with her obser- 
vations and consequent fears, his efforts to influ- 
ence Axel would prove as fruitless as were 
her own. 

When Axel returned from Upsala, to spend 


THE STARK FAMILY. 


83 


his second Summer vacation, the shadows had 
grown. Now, even Elsie began to suspect 
something wrong. Expressions that aroused 
her anxiety often escaped her brother. He 
spoke of “what a one-sided and narrow-minded 
religion was preached by the ministers; how 
unfavorably it compared with the newer teach- 
ing, in which was found freedom of thought and 
enlightenment.” He read much; with a zeal 
that was almost feverish, devouring one work of 
rationalism after another. During family wor- 
ship he seemed either absent-minded, or, if oth- 
erwise, disapproving remarks concerning what 
he had heard were the consequence, giving rise 
to grave dispute. 

After such conversation, his aunt looked so 
care-worn, and Elsie so frightened, that Axel 
resolved to fetter his frankness, and endeavor, 
as far as possible, to avoid wounding their feel- 
ings; yet looked down with compassion upon 
poor, weak minds who lacked his strength for 
rising upward on strong wings to the liberty 
of thought that gave him so much satisfaction. 
If only he could rise a trifle higher, so that 
that which was as yet obscure should become 
clear to him, then it would be his mission to 
open the porches of Elysium to his family. 
He thought of how surprised and bewildered 


8 4 


LENA. 


they would become, while he should be their 
prop and leader. 

But what thought the father? the reader 
perhaps may ask. Well, he admired his son’s 
great diligence. Having himself lacked a sci- 
entific education, he desired that his son should 
enjoy, in rich measure, its advantages. He 
should take his degree, and then freely choose 
his own future course. The change in him, 
seen by his aunt and suspected by his sister, 
almost wholly escaped the attention of his father, 
who was so happy at having himself found the 
peace of the Gospel as to render, it impossible, 
to his conception, that children, taught and 
reared as his had been, could ever leave the 
faith which was the substance of his hope in life 
and in death. If, in his father’s presence, any 
word of coldness or indifference were dropped 
by Axel, the former thought “his poor boy 
dull and weary from over-exertion in study, and 
that at heart he was a Christian, as warm as 
formerly.” 

Mr. Stark’s blindness to his son’s condition 
may seem unnatural; but we must consider how 
brief were his visits to Larkheim, and how few 
were his opportunities for observing Axel, in 
comparison with those of his sister and Elsie. 
Besides, Axel carefully avoided all religious 


THE STARK FAMILY. 


85 


conversation with his father, desiring not to 
begin any real contest until quite secure in the 
use of his weapons; and yet all was not per- 
fectly clear to him. 







Cfyif)tei c VIII. 

POISON OF UNBELIEF. 

f-T is in the last of May, the third Spring 
after Thorsten’s departure, when again 
W e enter the Stark home. Larkheim 
has been much beautified during our ab- 
sence. Bushes and trees have grown; the 
grass-plots are tolerably smooth and fine; 
numerous collections of plants give token of a 
rich yield of blossoms for the season, although 
only few of Spring’s earliest ones have as yet 
been able to develop their splendor of color and 
their fragrance. A veranda has been added to 
the house, which has been remodeled so as, 
without disturbing the simplicity of the place, 
to increase the comfort and satisfy Elsie’s sense 
of beauty. The shade of the birch-trees is, as 
ever, a favorite resort; so now, too, the coffee- 
table stands spread there, surrounded by light 
garden chairs. 

Axel is expected, and for his reception Elsie 
86 




THE STARK FAMILY. 


*7 


is engaged in arranging as delightfully as pos- 
sible. She deems a bouquet is still wanting, 
wherefore hyacinths, narcissuses, and tulips offer 
their young lives to fill the void; and, while 
this is going on, we will seize the opportunity 
for a look at her. 

This finely formed young lady — is she really 
the same little Elsie whose acquaintance we 
made in the nursery? Often one looks with a 
feeling of regret upon a once lovely child who 
has undergone this change. To be sure, the 
lineaments are finer, the bearing elegant, the 
toilet pretty; but where is the expression of 
gentle innocence? How will Elsie stand the in- 
vestigation? Let us step nearer. She is just 
now lifting her head, stroking back the unman- 
ageable ringlets that will not remain in place, 
and we meet her glance. Give a deep look into 
those bright, beautiful eyes! There you again 
find the child, although a faint shade of sadness 
obscures the usually happy expression. She is 
thinking of Axel, and wondering how now she 
shall find him. His letters have been of late so 
few and brief! Would he in spirit be yet more 
widely separated from them than when at home 
last Summer and during the Christmas vaca- 
tion? He had seemed so happy when they sep- 
arated, and had said that soon the time would 


88 


LENA. 


come when they should understand each other. 
Would it be thus? Yes, surely all again would 
be well. 

The bouquet was ready. It looked so well 
there in its place! Elsie was charmed with 
the success of her arrangements; and, banish- 
ing each sad thought with a smile of hope, she 
hastened to the house to call her father and aunt 
to share in her admiration. 

“Axel must be here immediately,” said she. 
“See, there he is at the garden gate!” 

With an outburst of joy, she flew to meet 
him; but she suddenly paused, while a look 
of painful surprise drove the bloom from her 
cheeks. This emaciated figure; this pallid face, 
in which suffering has plowed its deep furrows ; 
these dark eyes, burning with such a look of 
unrest — can it be the promising young student? 
He saw the impression his appearance produced, 
and, quickly clasping his sister in his arms, ex- 
claimed, with assumed gayety: 

“Well, don’t you recognize me? You think, 
perhaps, that I carry the same inscription as the 
baker’s goose that had been exchanged in the 
night: ‘Yesterday I was fat; to-day I am some- 
what spare.’ ” 

“Yes,” replied Elsie. “What is the matter? 
How dreadfully you look!” 


THE STARK FAMILY. 


89 


“O, see, there are father and aunt! I haven’t 
greeted them yet,” said Axel; and, without an- 
swering Elsie’s question, he turned from her and 
proceeded toward the veranda, where Mr. Stark 
and his sister were sitting. 

The same anxious question met him there : 

“Dear boy, what ails you?” 

“O, nothing to speak of. A little rest and 
quiet will set me right,” answered Axel. 

In the smothered sigh that escaped with these 
few words his aunt heard confessed what she had 
expected. 

“That study! that study!” exclaimed the mer- 
chant, shaking his head with the well-meant de- 
sign of hiding from his sister and Elsie what he 
thought he read in his son’s emaciated features. 

But Mr* Stark was no actor. His look in- 
quired as plainly as words could have done, 
“How deeply have you fallen?” 

In spite of the balmy Spring air, the fragrance 
of the flowers, and the inviting aroma of the 
coffee, the spirits of the company could not be 
rallied to the festivity anticipated by Elsie on 
this longed-for day. Each wished to keep his 
anxiety to himself, and no one succeeded; so, 
when Axel remembered that he had brought 
letters and papers from the city, it was an agree- 
able interruption. 


9 o 


LENA. 


Lena and Axel fortified themselves behind 
their new periodicals. Elsie read “the mar- 
riages and deaths” in the daily papers; and the 
merchant opened his letters, laying aside one 
after another without remark, until he came to 
the last, when, with suprise and no very great 
satisfaction, he exclaimed: 

“This is a tiresome story. Superintendent 
Billmer writes, asking me, as a favor, to receive 
his wife, who is coming to Stockholm for the 
sake of consulting physicians here, procure her 
comfortable rooms, etc. She is extremely nerv- 
ous, and unaccustomed to journeying alone. 
Business prevents him from accompanying her; 
so he solicits this service of me.” 

“Poor woman!” exclaimed Elsie, compas- 
sionately; “if only we could assist and nurse 
her!” 

“You little innocent!” said Axel; “do you 
think that a young lady, who can travel alone 
from Norrland to Stockholm, is so sick as to 
need you to step forward as a Sister of Mercy?” 

“Certainly the letter states that she is sick; 
doesn’t it, father?” said Elsie. 

“Yes, to be sure, it says that she is coming 
here for the purpose of consulting the doctors,” 
answered Mr. Stark; “but I think, with Axel, 
that we need n’t infer from this that her health 


THE STARK FAMILY. 


91 


is so very poor. From what I have heard of 
Mrs. Billmer, she is a great beauty, spending 
her life in nonsensical pursuit of pleasure. So 
I fear she would not sympathize much either 
with aunt or Elsie.” 

“Then I will be her knight,” said Axel. 
“Of course, she will wish amusement. I will 
accompany her around, and show her all there 
is to be seen.” 

Elsie looked at her brother in surprise. His 
readiness to become a cicerone was quite unex- 
pected. The aunt looked upon her periodical 
and sighed. She understood that no feeling of 
gallantry or kindness had induced from Axel 
such a remark — only the restless something in 
his eye, and which so evidently he was trying to 
conceal from those around him. 

The merchant, whose head had been busy 
with numerous plans for a reasonable opportu- 
nity to speak with his son alone, now proposed 
that he should go to his room and “try some 
new cigars.” 

When the two were alone together, the father 
advanced to Axel, who had taken a seat at the 
window and was staring at the landscape, and, 
kindly placing his hand upon his arm, said : 

.“My poor boy! Tell me the whole truth. 
What have you upon your conscience?” 


9 2 


LENA. 


There was no reply. 

“If you have contracted debt, only mention 
the amount, and be at rest. I hope I can 
pay it.” 

A painful smile overspread Axel’s face. A 
bitter reply was at his lips — what good could 
all the gold in the world do him? — but his fa- 
ther’s sad, loving look kept it back, and he 
answered : 

“I owe nothing. On the contrary, the con- 
dition of my purse has been so good as to allow 
me to lend two of my classmates money for 
their journeys home. If I look like a criminal, 
it arises from weariness of mind and body. I 
have no base act to confess;” and the proud, 
open look of old met that of the father. 

“Thank God!” said the merchant. “You 
really frightened me. I was afraid you had left 
your Lord, and suffered the world to entice you 
into sin.” 

“Father, I have left him. Concerning my 
actions, I have answered; but not my belief,” 
said Axel, gloomily. “The Christ whom you 
adore, and I used to worship, exists no more for 
me. I found him to be an empty shell, which, 
with contempt, I have thrown away.” 

“Unhappy boy !” cried the merchant. “Do 
you dare to scoff?” 


THE STARK FAMILY. 


93 


“What have I said?” asked Axel, becoming 
suddenly paler. “Forget the confession that es- 
caped me, and don’t be the least unhappy on 
my account, father.” 

“How could I forget that my child is exposed 
to fearful peril, both for time and eternity?” an- 
swered the father in despair, drying the sweat 
of anguish from his forehead. 

“O, do try to forget!” said Axel, seizing his 
hand; “and forgive me the pain I cause you. 
My inability to Fear my burden alone is con- 
temptible weakness. I fear that aunt, too, has 
looked through me, and that I make Elsie un- 
happy. I darken life to you all by my lack of 
self-control.” 

“What can we do for you?” asked the father. 
“Can not we convince you that — ” 

“No! no! Spare me the pain your efforts 
would give me! Perhaps my answers would 
awaken in your mind, also, the doubts that 
darken my existence,” replied Axel. 

“But I have one weapon with which to com- 
bat your enemies. You can not deny me the 
use of this,” said the father, with a ray of hope 
in his eyes. “I can pray for you.” 

Axel was affected, and kissed his father’s 
hand. He was too enlightened to believe in 
the power of prayer; yet the young skeptic, 


94 


LENA. 


the denier of the highest love, was moved by the 
loving care of his earthly father. 

The anxiety that the emaciated, suffering 
appearance of Axel awakened in those around 
him gave rise to many serious conversations 
and deliberations between the merchant and his 
sister. That the cause of his suffering was a 
mental one, there was no doubt. Axel had 
himself acknowledged this in his conversation 
with his father, although afterward he evaded 
any reference to the subject, and, with an as- 
sumed appearance of cheerfulness, attempted to 
conceal the dark condition of his mind. 

But not alone mentally did he suffer. His 
physical system reeled under the burden of the 
mental, and it became daily more evident that 
neither the salubrious air nor the repose at 
Larkheim was sufficient to renew his vigor or 
appetite. The anxious father consulted with his 
physician, who suggested “ sea-bathing and sea- 
air.” Axel showed no inclination to follow the 
doctor’s recommendation of a journey to the 
western coast, and, when the matter was pro- 
posed, only replied, half jestingly: 

“I don’t go unless Elsie goes with me. 
When I am alone with her, my gloom will 
sometimes recede, and life lose some of its 
heaviness.” 


THE STARK FAMILY. 


95 


“Elsie can’t go without your aunt,” replied 
the merchant. 

“O father,” said Axel, “I should never be 
willing to have aunt leave you for my sake; so 
the matter is decided. I shall stay at home.” 

“But the journey is necessary to the restora- 
tion of your health, perhaps the preservation of 
your life,” pleaded the father. 

“O, no,” replied Axel. “The whole North 
Sea couldn’t wash away my scruples; and they 
alone depress me.” 

What was to be done? To persuade Axel, 
dejected and ill as he was, to travel alone, 
seemed greatly objectionable; and Elsie could 
not go without female protection. The mer- 
chant sighed, and Aunt Lena appeared uneasy ; 
but nothing was decided upon. 




IX. 

HONEY UPON THE LIPS-WORMWOOD IN THE HEART. 

|R|r LETTER had been sent to Norrland, 
Sft yy inviting Mrs. Billmer to make the house 
* °f M r - Stark her home during her so- 
»J[|^ journ in Stockholm, and now we find all 
ip in readiness for her reception. The city 
residence, which recently had been closed 
for the season, is open again to light and air. 
Elsie has arranged fresh flowers in the vases, 
and the tea-machine is already singing in the 
dining-room. All is in readiness, and Elsie be- 
ginning to be impatient and wonder if they 
never are coming; while Aunt Lena, in her old- 
fashioned but faultless brown silk, and sedate- 
looking-cap, moves about with a look of anxiety, 
and a little more erect than usual, now taking a 
peep into the kitchen, now visiting the guest- 
chamber, to see that all is in readiness there. 

Finally, a carriage stops, and the expected 
guest has arrived, accompanied by Mr. Stark 
96 


THE STARK FAMILY. 97 

and Axel, who both have been out some dis- 
tance to meet her. 

Mrs. Billmer was a pale, fine-looking person, 
with large, lively brown eyes, beaming with the 
fire that flames, flashes, and sometimes burns, 
but never warms. To ask for her age were a 
breach of etiquette ; so we will content ourselves 
in supposing that she is between thirty and 
forty. With nervous vivacity she embraced 
Elsie, bowed condescendingly to Lena, compli- 
mented Mr. Stark, looked at Axel, and gave 
directions to her maid. 

Elsie was surprised and charmed. Lena’s 
' mind was overcast with clouds. Mr. Stark felt 
distressed and awkward at the expressions of 
gratitude showered upon him ; while Axel alone 
seemed quite self-possessed and ready to engage 
in lively conversation, although his cheerfulness 
was of the same joyless nature as at the time 
of his return from Upsala, when, for a while, he 
tried to tear himself from his gloom. Mrs. 
Billmer, however, was an observer too super- 
ficial to suppose him otherwise than a happy, 
merry individual. 

After a while, Elsie gathered courage to par- 
ticipate in the conversation ; but more, than once 
blushed with a sense of inefficiency in this kind 
of entertainment. Mrs. Billmer’s conversation 
7 


9 8 


LENA. 


fluttered around in a sphere quite foreign to 
Elsie, whose life had glided onward within the 
quiet — many, perhaps, would say narrow — pre- 
cinct of home. 

Lena felt it her duty to protect Elsie, as far 
as possible, from what might prove detrimental 
to her inner life. It was the aunt’s conviction 
that, as necessary as is pure atmosphere to the 
physical well-being of the child, is it to the de- 
velopment of its character that the moral atmos- 
phere it breathes should be as pure as is possi- 
ble here amid the contagion of sin. To be sure, 
she knew that no cloister walls shut out the 
world, and that life is fraught with impurity; 
but why seek peril? The child-mind is so sus- 
ceptible to impressions that we of maturity must 
shudder could we see how many a thoughtless 
word, dropped from our lips upon the ear of 
childhood, has taken root in the heart, sprung 
up, and borne fruit a hundred-fold. How vain 
are all our efforts to keep children from contact 
with sin! But shall we, then, be less watchful 
to protect them against exterior evil? Ought we 
not to endeavor to have the good seed as un- 
mixed as possible with what is otherwise? The 
enemy neglects not to sow tares. 

Lena had practiced with Elsie no strict rules 
and prohibitions; but, by a gentle influence, had 


THE STARK FAMILY. 


99 


led her to feel the joy of a higher life than that 
which is empty and vain. The thought had 
never occurred to Elsie that, by not participating 
in certain amusements which from her childhood 
she had been taught to think objectionable, she 
suffered any disadvantage. A transient feeling 
of wonder now arose within her, a curiosity to 
taste the forbidden fruit. She was ashamed of 
herself that it should be there, and hastened to 
drive it away; but was it therefore vanquished? 

Mrs. Billmer began, with a suspicious, half- 
contemptuous look, to regard Lena, who rattled 
her knitting-needles a little impatiently, and 
seemed dissatisfied. She had great desire to let 
drop some subtle remark upon one-sided and 
narrow-minded views, but deemed it more ex- 
pedient to recline upon the sofa and feel enfee- 
bled. This movement became the signal for 
decampment, and soon the little company was 
separated for the night. 

When Mrs. Billmer was alone with her maid, 
her lassitude seemed in a great measure to dis- 
appear. She stretched herself upon a sofa, and 
began : 

“Well, Fanny, isn’t it charming to think we 
are in Stockholm ? although it certainly is a trial 
to have to play the agreeable toward that old 
dromedary of a merchant, and live under the 


IOO 


LENA. 


same roof with his estimable sister. I can ’t 
endure her. She seems to disapprove all I say; 
but one must use self-control. There is some 
advantage in living gratuitously, the money will 
go farther; and, besides, the young people are 
quite agreeable.” 

“This is a religious family,” said Fanny; 
“the cook told me so.” 

“Yes, I could see that,” replied the lady. 
“That most worthy aunt looked as if she could 
have exterminated me; but, if I set about doing 
so, I can charm her as well as the rest. Yes; 
now, I have a mind to try. There would be 
more fun in doing so than in submitting to such 
looks of disapprobation as were cast upon me 
when I was talking of this and that with the 
young people;” and, with a merry laugh, she 
sprang from her indolent posture, and resigned 
herself to the care of Fanny. 

Soon the pretty maid was ready, with a 
courtesy, to ask: 

“Is there any thing more I can do for you, 
madam ?” 

“No. Good-night, Fanny.” 

Next morning, as Lena was alone in the 
breakfast-room, waiting for the family to con- 
vene, she was pleasantly surprised by the sweet- 
est “Good-morning!” so utterly unlike the cold 


THE STARK FAMILY. 


IOI 


(( Good-night!” bestowed upon her the evening 
before. In an affectionate, amiable manner, Mrs. 
Billmer caught hold of both Lena’s hands, and, 
looking beseechingly, exclaimed: 

“O Miss Stark! how glad I am to find you 
alone, that I may relieve my heart of what has 
rested so heavily upon it ever since last night! 
I saw that I displeased you. I spoke in such a 
thoughtless, frivolous manner! I know I must 
have seemed to you vain and superficial; but I 
have lacked the loving care that protects Miss 
Elsie from all contact with the follies of society. 
I can not help regarding her with a feeling al- 
most of envy. I look at her, and wish I were 
as innocent. Forgive me!” 

Lena was struck. Her conscience accused 
her of having, judged Mrs. Billmer pretty se- 
verely, so she earnestly apologized for having 
formed of her a rash opinion; and her straight- 
forward truthfulness caused a fickle repentance 
in the fair hypocrite. It might have been a 
more enduring one had she allowed herself to 
listen to its voice; but she quickly silenced con- 
science with the convenient consolation that she 
had meant no harm. 

Mr. Stark, Elsie, and Axel entered. Their 
appearance, too, was not the same as on the 
previous evening. The merchant was less re- 


102 


LENA. 


served. Axel, who, on the contrary, seemed to 
have forgotten his fine intention to render him- 
self agreeable and interesting, was silent and 
retiring. 

Elsie was dejected. No one knew what a 
long, long time in the night she had lain awake, 
thinking and wondering about the varieties of 
pleasure in society, moving so close around her, 
and of which she knew nothing yet so much 
desired a glimpse. Then, in the stillness of the 
hour, she saw all in its true charater, and a sense 
of this depressed her. 

Mrs. Billmer displayed, less vivacity than on 
the evening previous, having decided upon an 
appearance more subdued. Lena was regarded 
by her as already conquered. It was the mer- 
chant against whom now she turned her weap- 
ons ; and, knowing that the quickest, surest way 
to the father’s heart is in speaking of his chil- 
dren, with an ability that showed much practice 
she maneuvered so as to stand alone with the 
merchant, and, in the distance regarding Axel 
and Elsie with a look of tender sadness, exclaim : 

“O Mr. Stark, what an interesting, intelligent 
appearance your son has!” 

“I could wish he appeared more healthy, 
and less interesting,” replied the father. “His 
look gives me great anxiety. He needs a trip 


THE STARK FAMILY. 


103 


to the western coast; but he obstinately refuses 
to go without Elsie, and, of course, she can not 
go alone with him.” 

The western coast was the aim of Mrs. Bill- 
mer’s desires and plans. A new idea flashed 
into her mind. Good companionship was a great 
advantage, and if she could get Axel and Elsie 
with her, she could render them useful to her. . 

“But,” said she, “if Miss Elsie could go under 
the protection of an elder lady friend, would it 
not then be right to comply with his wish, par- 
ticularly if there should be in Elsie any predis- 
position to disease? Their mother died of lung 
disease, did she not?” 

“Yes; but there is nothing of that kind the 
matter with Axel; and Elsie has never been 
sick since she got through teething,” replied 
the father. 

“Perhaps she never has been sick; but she 
is certainly a tender plant that needs to be well 
propped,” said the lady. 

“What do you mean, my dear Mrs. Billmer?” 

“Is it possible that sea-bathing hasn’t been 
ordered for her too?” 

“We have never consulted a doctor concern- 
ing her; nor has she any suspicion that her 
health is otherwise than excellent,” replied Mr. 
Stark. 


104 


LENA. 


Here Mrs. Billmer assumed a look of pro- 
phetic doubt, and, as if gazing back upon a long 
row of sick-beds and death-beds, continued: 

“I am no doctor, but I have much experi- 
ence, and have found that, where there is cause 
for fearing hereditary lung disease, too much 
precaution can not be used. Look at your 
daughter! Is that dejected expression natural?” 

“Elsie is pale to-day,” replied the father. 
“Is it possible that she is in danger? If so, all 
obstacles to the journey must be removed. 
Axel must make no objection to leaving me 
alone. My sister must accompany them.” 

“Would that be really necessary,” said Mrs. 
Billmer, modestly. “I know very well that I 
can not fill the place of Miss Stark; but in all 
probability I shall be ordered to Marstrand. 
My whole nervous system is affected to a de- 
plorable degree; and, if your lovely daughter 
were submitted to my care, I should be most 
happy in the opportunity to watch over her 
with the tenderest care.” 

“I thank you,” said Mr. Stark; “but — ” 

“O, I will do it so willingly! But I may 
seem unfit to undertake such a charge,” inter- 
rupted Mrs. Billmer. 

“O, certainly not!” said Mr. Stark, bowing, 
but exceedingly puzzled. 


THE STARK FAMILY. 


105 


Mrs. Billmer seized his hand and pressed it. 

“ Promise me,” said she, “not to reject my 
proposal too quickly. It deserves consideration.” 

And it was considered. All reasons, pro and 
con , were carefully weighed, and the result was 
that Mrs. Billmer was victorious. 

Yet with Lena it cost much struggle to yield 
Elsie to the care of Mrs. Billmer; for, notwith- 
standing the touching penitence of this lady, she 
very soon could but feel the emptiness of certain 
religious phrases to which she was occasionally 
treated by her, and she knew that in her com- 
pany Elsie would be exposed to hitherto un- 
known temptations. But Elsie was no longer a 
child, and could not be treated as such. She 
must learn to discriminate. Lena hoped that 
her prayers and labor had not been in vain. 
Besides, her anxiety for Axel was so great that 
she felt comfort in the knowledge of Elsie’s 
presence with him. 

In resigning Elsie to the care of Mrs. Billmer, 
even the merchant had his scruples; but they 
were overcome by the lady’s assurances of ma- 
ternal care and the quiet life they should lead at 
Marstrand; and, although he had not the most 
perfect confidence in her professions, he blindly 
believed in her illness, and saw therein protection 
against a mingling with society. 


io 6 


LENA. 


But Elsie herself, what were her feelings? A 
transport, mixed with dread. Now, finally, she 
was to have a glimpse of the world. 

They were to start in a fortnight. Mrs. Bill- 
mer herself undertook to dictate the arrangement 
of Elsie’s toilet, which care, taken in connec- 
tion with that of her own, occupied the greater 
portion of her time; while the oppressive heat 
prevented any other pleasure undertakings than 
a couple of excursions in the beautiful environs 
of the capital. 

Axel was one day rashly merry, the next 
sunk in gloom. This inconsistency rendered 
him, in Mrs. Billmer’s eye, so interesting that, 
as one day she expressed herself to Elsie, she 
thought him “exceedingly charming.” 




Clthptei* X. 

JOURNEY TO MARSTRAND. 

HE day of our travelers’ departure for 
Marstrand was a windy, rainy one, and 
the steamboat trip from Gothenburg 
r as extremely disagreeable. Mrs. Bill- 
T mer screamed and cried, and occupied the 
attention of all who would bestow it. Elsie 
was pale and frightened, and with her whole 
heart wished herself at home. The seasickness 
surrounding her, the heavings of the boat, the 
pent-up air, every thing inclined her to think, 
with the hen in one of Hans Christian Ander- 
sen’s stories, “There is no pleasure in traveling.” 

Finally the heaving decreased, and the com- 
forting exclamation, “We are there!” infused 
new life into the sick. Mrs. Billmer’s first 
thought was one of solicitude about her appear- 
ance, whether her dress was mych wrinkled, etc. 
Elsie saw with surprise that it was the same 
with most of the passengers. Was she, then, 

107 






LENA. 


108 

the only one present who thought of thanking 
God for the preservation of their lives? 

As Elsie stood upon deck, inhaling the pure, 
bracing sea-air, and viewing the strange aspect 
of nature around her, she was filled with joyful 
wonder. The evening sun, breaking" forth from 
behind the heavy clouds, threw a charming lus- 
ter over sky, sea, and cliffs. 

“O, how beautiful!” cried Elsie. 

But Mrs. Billmer only declared, that, if she 
were not anticipating a pleasant time in the soci- 
ety at Marstrand, she should certainly become a 
hypochondriac by looking at those horrible gray 
cliffs. However, with all the more interest did 
she view the numerous bathers, who, enticed by 
the sunbeams and the approaching steamer, had 
taken an expectant position, for the purpose of 
viewing and discussing the passerigers. 

“Look there to the right,” whispered Mrs. 
Billmer to Elsie. “Well, I don’t mean the bas- 
ket-woman, but that company of gentlemen, of 
course. They have noticed us! How curious 
they are! O, there is Lieutenant Nollen! He 
will certainly recognize -me — then my incognito 
will be gone; but you must remain an unknown 
dignity. Believe me, Nollen do n’t sleep to-night 
without learning your name and how much you 
weigh.” 


THE STARK FAMILY. 


IO9 

Elsie was astonished at the thought of such 
remarkable curiosity. 

“Don’t you understand Swedish, dear child,” 
said Mrs. Billmer, laughing, “or are you averse 
to being weighed? This means only the amount 
of your fortune.” 

Axel, who meanwhile had, with Fanny, exam- 
ined the list of baggage and seen it safely ashore, 
now came for the ladies; and Mrs. Billmer, tak- 
ing his arm, sailed forth most exquisitely, while 
Elsie followed, with thoughts unpleasantly occu- 
pied with Mrs. Billmer’s conversation, the tone of 
which was to her as new as it was disagreeable. 
They had hardly stepped upon shore ere Lieu- 
tenant Nollen hastened forward to greet Mrs. 
Billmer. 

“Well, my dear madam, what unexpected 
luck! How do you do?” said the little lieuten- 
ant, endeavoring, by contracting his eye-brows 
and assuming a certain tone of sadness, to man- 
ufacture a look of sympathy. 

“Poorly, very poorly,” replied Mrs. Billmer; 
“but I hope that Marstrand will give me back 
my health.” 

“How lamentable ! Is Mr. Billmer with you ?” 

“No,” replied the lady; “I am alone with 
these young friends. Miss Stark, Mr. Stark, 
Lieutenant Nollen.” 


1 10 


LENA. 


The presentation well over, the Lieutenant 
endeavored to make himself interesting to Elsie 
by inquiring “whether she had been seasick, 
had visited Marstrand before,” etc.; but Mrs. 
Billmer was unwilling to resign him so soon. 
A student can have his merits; but what is 
he in comparison with a military officer? Her 
step, therefore, became heavy and dragging. 
Axel became alarmed at the weight upon his 
arm, and asked: 

“Are you ill, Mrs. Billmer?” 

“O, pardon me!” replied Mrs. Billmer. “I 
am so fatigued, so faint! I need support; but 
you are yourself so weak. Lieutenant Nollen, 
do please have compassion on me.” 

Axel would not admit that he was too weak 
for her support; but, with the sweetest smile, 
she withdrew her hand from his arm and placed 
it upon that of the Lieutenant, saying, as she 
did so: 

“Remember, Mr. Stark, that I promised to 
watch over your health with maternal tenderness.” 

Axel turned away, with very little gratitude 
for the maternal tenderness; and, fortunately, 
Mrs. Billmer soon recovered herself so as to 
glide forward with her usual grace by the side 
of the Lieutenant, who favored her with as much 
information concerning the visitors at the place 


THE STARK FAMILY. 


Ill 


as could be given in a hurry; and, in return for 
the pleasing intelligence concerning counts and 
countesses, barons and baronesses, Mrs. Billmer 
whispered in confidence that Elsie was heiress 
to a large and solid fortune, which information 
was received with apparent interest. 

The next day was a pleasant one. The cot- 
tage that had been prepared for their accom- 
modation during the bathing season was neat 
and comfortable, and Mrs. Billmer radiated for a 
wager with the sun, quite happy at thought of 
so many grandees and so much rare amusement. 

Axel came to the breakfast- table, from an 
early walk among the mountains, with an appe- 
tite so fresh that Elsie, who thought she saw 
already the return of health and strength, was 
exultant with joy, and seemed like a twittering 
bird. 

When, in the course of the forenoon, Lieu- 
tenant Nollen called, he found the travelers in 
the best of spirits, and, being himself of a plan- 
etary nature, soon reflected the common joy, 
becoming so jovial that one might be misled to 
suppose him really an interesting person. 

Escorted by the Lieutenant, Mrs. Billmer and 
Elsie made their appearance upon the park, 
where, thanks to their little knight’s good will 
and desire for chat, they were noticed with a 


1 1 2 


LENA. 




certain kind of curiosity, which was observed 
by Mrs. Billmer with triumphant pleasure, and, 
Elsie thought, friendliness. 

With restless zeal, Nollen had run around 
speaking about the “charming Mrs. Billmer,” 
and the “beautiful heiress, Miss Stark,” and 
now was as zealous in presenting them right and 
left. Besides, Mrs. Billmer was so fortunate as 
to find amid the cream of society her good 

friend, Mrs. Colonel D , whose acquaintance 

she had made eleven years before, at Medevi, 
and who, although to be sure she had at first 
some difficulty in recalling to mind this “dear 
friend,” with delicate tact made amends for for- 
getfulness in especial politeness. 

Elsie seemed, with Mrs. Billmer, like a little 
yawl beside a schooner in full sail ; but many, 
who with haughty surprise observed with what 
dexterity Mrs. Billmer maneuvered to inflate her 
sails, had only smiles and encouragements for 
the modest yawl. 

The programme for the day was, first, a con- 
cert of sacred music in the church, and, after- 
ward, music and fireworks upon the water. 

Elsie was glad that the first amusements 
which presented themselves were of a nature so 
innocent that with a good conscience she could 
partake of them. “These would interest even 


THE STARK FAMILY. 


113 

aunt,” thought she, as with childish rapture she 
listened to the music, watched the many sailing- 
boats as they glided past each other, and the 
hissing rockets as they rushed upward, throwing 
fitful glares over the whole scene. 

When again they were at home, and had 
bidden adieu to Lieutenant Nollen, Mrs. Billmer 
asked : 

“Well, what do you think of Marst-rand?” 

“It is charming,” exclaimed Elsie. 

“An intolerable hubbub,” muttered Axel, 
in a surly manner. 

“Axel, how can you say so?” said Elsie. 
“It has been a splendid day. All are so friendly 
and kind! I begin to doubt that the world is 
so bad as one imagines at a distance.” 

“Yes; you will see that there is much that 
isn’t so dangerous as you have supposed,” said 
Mrs. Billmer, in a tone of gayety. 

“And much that is more dangerous than 
you have supposed,” said Axel, gloomily, and 
added, in a whisper: “Beware of letting the 
first doubt gain entrance! You can not surmise 
how short the distance is therefrom to hell. 
Goodnight!” and he hurried out. 

Elsie stood shocked, and the happy reminis- 
cences of the day seemed to vanish like a 
bursting soap-bubble; but after a while Mrs. 

8 


LENA. 


1 14 

Billmer’s chat brought her to her senses again; 
and, although she fell asleep with a sigh, it was 
for her brother’s sake only. 

Mrs. Billmer soon found herself mistaken in 
having thought Axel an attentive cavalier, of 
whose time and patience she might freely dis- 
pose. With loathing, he retired from the gay 
social life that surrounded her, spending the 
greater part of the day upon the water, alone 
with a silent sailor and his own unhappy 
thoughts; but what Axel was not, Lieutenant 
Nollen was all the more willing to become. 

“How good-natured and accommodating he 
is!” exclaimed Elsie, as Lieutenant Nollen has- 
tened away to perform an errand for Mrs. 
Billmer. 

“Fie! what tiresome expressions!” replied 
Mrs. Billmer. “He is an exceedingly interest- 
ing and well-mannered young man, who doesn’t 
think upon himself and his own pleasure exclu- 
sively, but -has thought and sympathy for others ; 
and this you only call good-natured and accom- 
modating!” 

Elsie blushed, and turned a look of alarm 
upon Axel, wondering how he would receive 
the hint; but he sat there with arms crossed, 
staring into space, silent and abstracted as be- 
fore. She felt relieved that he had not been 


THE STARK FAMILY. 


115 

wounded by the insinuation. But would not an 
outburst of passion have been good for him? 
Yes, far preferable to this oppressive silence. 
She must try to waken him from his dreams; 
and, tenderly laying her hand upon his arm, 
she asked: 

“Are you going out sailing, to-day?” 

“Yes,” said he, “at eleven o’clock. Perhaps 
it is time to go;” and, looking at his watch, he 
found it was eleven o’clock. 

“But shall you always go alone? Will you 
not let us go with you?” asked Elsie. 

“To-day it is too windy,” was the reply. 

“And, besides, we have no time,” interrupted 
Mrs. Billmer. “We are going visiting.” 

Axel left without a word, or a feeling of re- 
gret at the loss of their society. Hardly had he 
left the door, when Lieutenant Nollen hurried 
in, panting and smiling. 

“Here, my ladies,” said he, “I have suc- 
ceeded in procuring you reading — a French 
novel; and here are Stockholm papers — The 
Day s News and New Illustrated Papers. ” 

“Thank you, my good Lieutenant Nollen,” 
said Mrs. Billmer; “lam quite delighted. Elsie 
and I were speaking of how much we are in- 
debted to you.” 

“Should I be allowed to present a claim, it 


ii 6 


LENA. 


would be to demand the glittering reward of a 
dance with each of you ladies at the soirie to- 
night.” 

‘‘This I can not give,” replied Elsie, blushing. 

“How?” inquired the Lieutenant. “Am I 
already too late? Are you engaged for every 
dance?” 

“No, not at all; but I don’t intend to go to 
the soirte; and, besides, I never dance.” 

“Why?” 

“I disapprove of dancing,” replied Elsie, 
trying to appear calm and firm; but, when her 
look met the scornful smile of Mrs. Billmer, 
she felt her courage fail, and tears already trem- 
bled in her long dark eyelashes. 

“O, my dear,” said Mrs. Billmer, “don’t 
say that you disapprove of dancing. Rather say 
straight out, ‘Aunt don’t allow me to dance.’ 
I shall tell you, Lieutenant, that ‘aunt’ is a very 
estimable person, who, until now, has assumed 
to be conscience for Elsie, and relieve her of all 
trouble of judging for herself what is right and 
wrong; but, my dear Elsie, it is really high 
time that you should for once endeavor to have 
an opinion of your own. How can you be so 
unjust as to condemn what you have never 
seen? Think what an inconsistency ! She has 
never seen a ball.” 


I 


THE STARK FAMILY. 117 

“Ah! is it possible!” exclaimed the Lieuten- 
ant, sympathetically. 

“Yes,” said Mrs. Billmer; “and it is certainly 
our duty, as her friends, to resist the prejudice.” 

Elsie looked down, struggling with herself to 
keep back the tears which she was unwilling to 
have seen; and Mrs. Billmer, interpreting her 
silence as compliance, said, patting her kindly: 

“I see that you will not be selfish; so you 
will go with us to the soiree. If you find danc- 
ing as dangerous as you have been taught, I 
shall not ask you to go again. ‘One time is no 
time,’ as you know.” 

“But I neither can nor will dance,” said Elsie. 

“Well,” said Mrs. Billmer, “the less you will 
risk. To sit and look awhile at us poor children of 
the world can not be so perilous, I should think.” 

And Elsie yielded. To sit and look only at 
the dancing seemed to her really innocent. It 
might,, too, be interesting to see how people 
of intelligence could find pleasure in such folly. 
Yes; and when Lieutenant Nollen, with untiring 
persistency, entreated that she would be his part- 
ner only in one little gallopade, encircled by 
his arm, transported with the music, she glided 
gracefully away in the dance. When it was 
over, she remarked: 

“I got along better than I expected.” 




1 18 


LENA. 


“And wasn’t it pleasanter, too?” whispered 
the Lieutenant, looking full into her eye, as he 
withdrew his arm. 

Elsie blushed, but answered, truthfully: 

“Yes.” 

Mrs. Billmer heard the acknowledgment, and 
laughed triumphantly. However, she made no 

remark, but hastened to present Baron S , 

who requested of Elsie her hand in the next 
waltz. 

“I thank you, I never waltz,” replied Elsie, 
frightened at being unable to say, “I never 
dance.” 

“The next francaise, then?” 

“I can not dance francaise .” 

“Indeed! only gallopades? or is Lieutenant 
Nollen the only fortunate man?” 

“Are you crazy, girl?” whispered- Mrs. Bill- 
mer. “If you have begun to dance, you must 
go on, or you will make yourself ridiculous.” 

Then, addressing the Baron, she continued: 

“If your grace will have patience with the 
little nun’s ignorance of the mysteries of the 
francaise , of course she will be very grateful.” 

“Is it really so?” said the Baron to Elsie. 

“Yes, thank you?” answered Elsie, blushing 
and confused. 

Thus, without exactly knowing how it had 




After the Ball 







THE STARK FAMILY. 


1 1 9 

taken place, Elsie found herself transformed from 
a quiet spectator of the dance to an animated 
participator in it, and listened with surprise, but 
not without pleasure, to the flattery to which 
she was treated. To be sure, the moral atmos- 
phere in which she had been educated was too 
pure, and the character of her mind too health- 
ful, to deem much of the conversation to which 
she listened otherwise than insipid and super- 
ficial; but, on the other hand, she was too 
unsophisticated to know that many a worn-out 
phrase came not from the heart. 

“To-day you have done me honor,” said 
Mrs. Billmer, pressing the hand of Elsie, as 
she wished her good-night. 

When Elsie had reached her room, she threw 
herself, fatigued and excited, upon a sofa. The 
window stood open, admitting the mild evening 
air, with a flow of moonshine, which, with its 
subdued luster, lighted the room. A shudder 
passed through Elsie. Why did 4II look so sol- 
emn and grave? The peaceful stillness around 
her harmonized little with the various shades of 
the unquiet thought and emotion that were mov- 
ing within her. 

There lay the Bible open, as she had left it 
in the morning without finishing the chapter 
which she had begun to read. Ought she not 


120 


LENA. 


to finish it, and end the day, as she was wont, 
with prayer, and meditation upon God’s Word? 
No; it was sinful to read with thoughts so scat- 
tered. She was too tired; and, laying aside the 
Bible, she shut the window and hastened to bed. 
She tried to collect her mind for prayer, and 
found words; but they were cold and lifeless, 
and drowned by the tones of the dancing-music 
still resounding in her ear. 

Soon she fell asleep, when her thoughts and 
emotions took the form of fantastic dreams. 
Now she was surrounded by the changing 
scenes of the ball, dancing, and listening to the 
voice of flattery; now surprised by the reprov- 
ing glances of the moon, which, with Aunt 
Lena’s eyes, looked down from the vault above 
upon her and her neglected Bible; but then 
came Mrs. Billmer, illuminated by a big chan- 
delier, assuring her that it was not as dangerous 
as she supposed, when the moon withdrew be- 
hind the clouds, and the music again resounded 
so enchantingly ! 



CSlikptef XI. 



“MIT LIF ER EN VAG.” 

(My life is a wave.) 

LSIE awoke in the morning, tired and 
depressed. The reproving voice of 
conscience could not be silenced, al- 
^ though again and again she repeated the 
words of Mrs. Billmer, “It is not so dan- 
gerous.” However, she resolved that no 
one should perceive her feelings concerning the 
previous evening’s amusement. 

At breakfast, Axel was somewhat social and 
attentive, and related incidents of his day pre- 
vious upon the sea: how he had been induced 
to sail to Blaakulla, and there had made a pe- 
destrian excursion. On the return home, there 
had been so little wind that it was one o’clock 
at night before they reached Marstrand. 

“I hope my absence caused you no anxiety,” 
said he. 

“O, no,” replied Mrs. Billmer, quite agree- 
ably disposed toward him for the entertainment 


122 


LENA. 


of his conversation. ‘ ‘ The weather was so calm, 
we were agreed in thinking that nothing could 
have happened to you.” 

Elsie was astonished at this falsehood. She 
had been too deeply absorbed in thoughts of 
herself to have asked, on her arrival home, 
whether her brother were there or not; and that 
Mrs. Billmer as little had thought of him, she 
was quite sure. Axel saw in her countenance 
the emotion she felt, but misunderstood it, and, 
grateful for the anxiety which he believed she 
had suffered for his sake, he drew her to him, 
and asked kindly: 

“Would n’t you like to go with me out upon 
the water to-day? I mean, would n’t it amuse 
Mrs. Billmer to undertake a sailing excursion? 
Wind and weather are excellent.” 

“Yes; why not?” replied Mrs. Billmer. 
“But the whole forenoon is occupied; eleven 
o’clock is my bathing hour, and at twelve we 
must n’t neglect the park. But at four it is 
convenient, and we could be at home again in 
time for making our toilets before the music 
begins.” 

“As you please,”' replied Axel, with a light 
bow, and went out. 

“Now, how can we gather, in a hurry, a nice 
little sailing party?” said Mrs. Billmer. “Nollen 


THE STARK FAMILY. 


123 


must go, as a matter of course. May be we can 

invite Baron S and Count P — : — ; but when 

there are so many gentlemen there ought to be 
more ladies. Well, I shall do my best.” 

“Why so many?” asked Elsie, dissatisfied; 
“it would be so much pleasanter to be alone 
with Axel.” 

“Excuse me; not according to my taste,” 
replied Mrs. Billmer, with an air of contempt, 
and, turning to her French novel, she soon be- 
came absorbed in it. 

Unusually enough, Mrs. Billmer’s plans were 
not crowned with success. Nollen was the only 
one whose company she succeeded in obtaining 
for the boat trip. 

When Axel came for them, at four o’clock, 
he found the faithful satellite ready, with cloaks 
and shawls upon his arm, rendering himself, as 
usual, smilingly useful. 

The sight was an unwelcome one, and Axel 
whispered to Else: 

“Why did you bring this living clothes-rack 
along with you?” 

“Be thankful to escape with no more of 
them,” answered Elsie, merrily. 

As soon as they were seated in the pretty 
little sailer, it spread its white wings, and shot 
fleetly through the surging waves. 


124 


LENA. 


“How delightful!” exclaimed Elsie, in an 
ecstasy of enjoyment. 

“Yes, it is pleasant,” replied Mrs. Billmer. 
“It is too bad that I couldn’t succeed in gath- 
ering a larger party! One requires lively mis- 
cellaneous conversation, in order not to become 
weary by the monotonous sound of the billows.” 

“The requisites are so different,” remarked 
Axel, with a sarcastic smile. “For my part, I 
have not as yet heard enough of the powerful 
language spoken by the sea, the cliffs, and the 
wind.” 

“Such entertainment I envy no one,” said 
Mrs. Billmer. “I should prefer that sea and 
wind would remain quiet. As to the cliffs, they 
are utterly monotonous and insignificant.” 

Axel, who had no desire for continuing con- 
versation, leaned, silent and thoughtful, against 
the gunwale, and looked out over the swelling 
waves. 

With an impatient motion of her shoulders, 
Mrs. Billmer turned from him, to bestow her 
attention upon a more worthy and grateful 
object, Lieutenant Nollen; and soon they were 
so deeply engaged in discussing the incidents of 
the day, in critical remarks upon society in 
general, and last night’s soirie in particular, as 
to forget their silent partners ; for not alone 


THE STARK FAMILY. 


125 


Axel had relapsed in thought — Elsie’s childish 
rapture had given place to seriousness. Power- 
ful thoughts were stirring within her, seizing her 
soul with wonderfully awakening strength. The 
fresh bloom vanished from her cheeks; she be- 
came so pale as finally to attract the attention 
and sympathy of Lieutenant Nollen. 

“Ah! you are seasick,” said he; “we must 
return immediately. Turn your face toward the 
wind and try to gape, and perhaps it will pass off. 
This is a splendid remedy for seasickness. ” 

“I am not sick,” said Elsie. 

“What ails you?” asked Axel, aroused. 
“Why are so pale?” 

“My soul trembles before the presence of 
God,” replied Elsie. “I have never before had 
such a sense of him as now.” 

These words were only for Axel, and spoken 
in a tone so subdued that only he could hear 
them; while the rest of the company, believing 
that Elsie was only a victim to the pangs of 
seasickness, renewed their merry conversation, 
leaving her unmolested. 

Axel looked at Elsie with a tender, grieved 
look; and, drawing her nearer to himself, he 
whispered : 

“How can a sense of the presence of God 
cause my little sister to tremble? Isn’t love to 


126 


LENA. 


God the sunshine in which she lives an5 has 
her being?” 

“It has been,” replied Elsie, “or — I thought 
it was; but now my heart is so full of sin that, 
like Adam after the Fall, I wish to hide myself 
from the presence of God.” 

With painful surprise, Axel listened to this 
confession. 

“Poor child!” said he. “I supposed you 
were so full of faith and love that nothing in the 
world could disturb your peace with God.” 

She reclined her head against his arm, and 
big tears rolled down her cheeks. 

“Dear sister,” whispered Axel, tenderly, 
“try to be calm. We can not very well speak 
with each other here; but, when we are alone, 
will you open your heart to me, as when we 
were children, and had all our joy and sorrow 
in common?” 

“Yes, yes! I long to talk to you about 
myself, and about — you,” she added, doubt- 
fully. 

Axel made no reply, but appeared to be suf- 
fering; and Elsie hoped to succeed in inducing 
him to break the silence which so long, like a 
spell, had bound him. 

The boat now sped toward the harbor. Mrs. 
Billmer looked at her watch,, satisfied that the 


THE STARK FAMILY. 


127 

excursion had taken up no more of her time, 
and said : 

“Elsie, we have half an hour for making our 
toilets, and then it will be time to go to the 
park.” 

“I shall remain at home,” said Elsie. 

“Indeed! O, I had forgotten your seasick- 
ness. How are you now?” said Mrs. Billmer. 

“Thank you, quite well,” was the reply; 
“but I have no desire for going out.” 

“As you please,” said Mrs. Billmer. 

“I will come to you when I see Mrs. Bill- 
mer leave,” whispered Axel, as he helped Elsie 
from the boat. 

After the deliberation and noise inseparable 
from Mrs. Billmer’s toilet-making, quiet again 
prevailed in the room, and Elsie sat there alone, 
longing for the appearance of her brother. Her- 
self and sorrow for her sin had given place to 
thoughts about her brother. No doubt or fear 
now obstructed her approach to God in child- 
like faith and hope. The hour of anguish, in 
which she recently had wished to hide from the 
eyes of the Holy Almighty Judge, had been 
struggled through, and again she had found that 
Father, to whom, in Jesus Christ reconciled, she 
confided all her cares. “Love banishes fear.” 

When Axel came, he found her so absorbed 


28 


LENA. 


in thought that she did not perceive his pres- 
ence until she heard him saying, tenderly: 

“Little sister, let me hear what it is that 
makes your heart so heavy.” 

She raised her head, and turned upon him a 
look so beaming that he repented his sympathy. 
What he had believed to be real grief must 
have been only a fleeting impression, since she 
now could seem so happy; but suddenly, as a 
cloud obscures the bright beams of the sun, 
was her visage now overspread by a look of 
seriousness. 

“It was sin that depressed me,” she began. 
“Alas, Axel, you don’t know how weak and 
selfish I am. Think, yesterday, when you be- 
lieved me full of fear and anxiety on your ac- 
count, I was at a ball, and danced — occupied 
only with the pleasures of the moment.” 

“Well,” said Axel, “I see no harm in that; 
my life was in no peril.” 

“Do n’t say so,” replied Elsie. “My 
thoughts would as little have been upon you if 
you had really been in peril. Besides, I feel 
now the danger of the life into which I have 
been drawn, and my own weakness to resist 
temptation.” 

And she described her emotions and impres- 
sions after her return home, the dream, and the 


THE STARK FAMILY. 


129 


feeling of dissatisfaction that had filled her dur- 
ing the day, which at sight of the sea, the image 
of infinity, assumed the form and character of 
deep sorrow for sin. 

“But you seemed so happy when I came in 
and interrupted your thoughts,” said Axel. 

“Peace came to me during prayer; but I am 
so weak. Guide me, help me, Axel! that I 
may not again fall,” said Elsie. 

“How can the blind lead the blind? Will 
they not both fall into the ditch?” replied Axel, 
gloomily. “I am not a Christian more.” 

To be sure, Elsie paled; but the surprise 
she manifested was not as great as he had 
anticipated. 

“What, then, are you?” she asked, mildly. 

“Nothing,” replied Axel. “Do you see, 
this is just what is the dreadful matter. Which- 
ever way I turn, I find nothing, nothing to lean 
upon. I can not and will not show you, step 
by step, the way by which I was led to unbe- 
lief and despair. I believed myself struggling 
for truth and light, and found only void. Do 
you remember, when we were children, how, 
one day we were lying underneath the big oak, 
gazing upward into the air, while I was trying 
to convey to your mind the first principles of 
natural philosophy, the laws of gravitation, etc., 
9 


130 


LENA. 


we began to imagine how it would seem if earth 
should suddenly lose its power of attraction 
and we should fall from it into space, and you 
became so frightened that, in perfect terror, you 
embraced me for security ? This sense of 
having lost foothold and fallen off, in a moral 
sense, I have come to experience bitterly. I 
believed myself ascending from one degree of 
light to another. Revelation appeared to me 
too obscure and narrow, as antiquated prejudice 
doomed to fall. For a time, this condition of 
mind was accompanied with feelings of joy and 
courage. I seemed to myself so strong, so en- 
thusiastic after truth. But I awoke from this 
dream, and found my doubts to have ripened 
into despair. You, and the rest at home, saw 
how changed I was. I tried to hide my condi- 
tion of mind, and suffer alone; but I could not 
succeed. How much pain I have caused you 
all! I, who once had such ardent dreams of 
becoming a joy to my father and a support to 
you — you, whom our dying mother confided to 
my love ! I could not conceal my unhappiness ; 
alas! it was stronger than I. The only thing 
that gives me a little rest is the sea. When I 
am out upon it, and listen to its deep sighs, I 
forget myself; I cease to be a creature pf thought, 
and feel myself only an. atom in creation.” 


THE STARK FAMILY. 131 

Axel became silent, and leaned his pale fore- 
head against the table. 

Elsie had sat listening, in fear, by word or 
movement, to disturb him while he was speak- 
ing. Now, she took his hand and said: 

“Your illustration is clear to me, and was 
easily comprehended. I could never forget the ' 
terror of that moment. But why do n’t you 
carry out the figure ?” 

“What do you mean?” asked Axel. 

“When I threw myself, crying, into your 
arms, you pacified me with the assurance that 
we were resting safely upon the rock, and had 
nothing to fear. Now, I ask you to gaze no 
longer into space, but look at the Rock of our 
Foundation. Rest your soul upon the thought 
that God is love, and you shall not lose foothold 
in time or eternity.” 

Axel raised his head, and was startled at sight 
of the joyful assurance that animated the coun- 
tenance of his sister. 

“Faith only can rest in God,” he replied; 
“but all the faith I have is that of which the 
apostle speaks when he says: ‘Thou believest 
that there is a God; thou doest well: the devils 
also believe, and tremble.’ My thoughts seek 
God, but find only dark unrest.” 

“Your thoughts seek,” replied Elsie; “but 


132 


LENA. 


how can one find love without seeking with the 
heart?” 

Axel did not answer this question, and Elsie 
continued; 

“But your heart shows more belief than 
your intellect will acknowledge.” 

“How so?” asked Axel. 

“Do you suffer from unbelief?” asked Elsie. 

“Yes,” was the reply. 

“This suffering is a sense of missing, and, to 
a certain degree, you must believe in order to 
miss,” said Elsie. 

“Who told you that?” asked Axel. 

“The truth,” said Elsie. 

“Well, what is truth?” queried Axel, ear- 
nestly; but without the tone of bitter despair 
with which he had begun his acknowledgment 
of unbelief. 

“God so loved the world that he gave his 
only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in 
him should not perish, but have eternal life,” 
said Elsie, throwing her arms around her broth- 
er’s neck. 

Axel was moved, although not vanquished, 
and a solemn silence ensued, which was finally 
interrupted by the entrance of Fanny, who came 
to say that Mrs. Billmer had sent her compli- 
ments, with the request that they would not 


THE STARK FAMILY. 1 33 

wait supper, as she was going to take hers with 
Mrs. Colonel D . 

“What a fortunate occurrence!” exclaimed 
Elsie, when Fanny had retired. “So, we can 
have the whole evening to ourselves. It is 
really unfriendly of me to feel glad of Mrs. 
Billmer’s absence; but her society would be to 
me now a genuine nuisance.” 

“I can excuse the unfriendliness,” said Axel, 
“and hope you will excuse me for feeling the 
society of Lieutenant Nollen to be the same.” 

“I am so ungrateful as to share your feeling,” 
replied Elsie; “although I must acknowledge 
that a more good-natured, accommodating man 
could not be found upon earth.” 

Axel seemed unwilling to resume the conver- 
sation concerning himself, and Elsie possessed 
too much tact to be willing to force upon him 
advice and admonition. She was happy at the 
warmth with which he had recalled many inci- 
dents of childhood. His words breathed love 
to her, to the home — a sad longing for the peace 
of childhood. O, would his heart not open to 
the only true peace? Would he not return a 
true believer, a soul refined in the fire? O, if 
she could only speak with Aunt Lena ! At 
thought of Aunt Lena, a favorite song occurred 
to her, and, going to the piano, she sang, in 


134 


LENA. 


soft, pure tones, “A Christian’s praise for the 
assurance of being a partaker in the grace of 
reconciliation.” 

Axel listened attentively, and the refreshing 
words of faith fell like a Spring showe_r upon 
his soul. Albeit his heart could not join in the 
glad song of victory, he was touched by the 
well-known tones, and the feeling of dark de- 
spair that usually held sway over him was trans- 
formed into one of sad regret. 

“Thanks! God bless and keep you!” said he, 
and, embracing his sister, bade her good-night. 

How otherwise seemed Elsie’s chamber to 
her than *when she entered it on the previous 
night! Then its solitude had almost frightened 
her; now it seemed peaceful and precious. 

O, how full and pure was the joy she now 
felt, compared with the false, fickle pleasure the 
ball had given her, and which afterward cost her 
so much. unrest and dissatisfaction! 




XII. 



TRUTH AND FALSEHOOD. 

’ ANNY sat, sleepy and vexed, waiting 
for the return of her mistress, whom 
she thought inexcusably late. 

“It’s surely that Lieutenant,” she mut- 
7V s tered; and at that moment her eye fell upon 
** Mrs. Billmer, who was really approaching, 
leaning upon the arm of Lieutenant Nollen. 

The beautiful moonlight had given opportu- 
nity for a long promenade after supper. Mrs. 
Billmer was in exceedingly good spirits. She 
had amused herself— and was doing so still — by 
rendering herself fascinating. Her black eyes 
glittered in the moonlight. Now she was mis- 
chievously merry, now shook her dark ringlets 
with an air of romantic ecstasy. The little Lieu- 
tenant was enchanted. At the moment of adieu, 
he could not forbear carrying her hand to his 
lips. His homage was received with a smile of 
half reproof, half encouragement. The warrior’s 

i35 


LENA. 


136 

courage grew. Yet once more he kissed her 
hand, and — then once more; but the third 
time it was withdrawn as with sudden conster- 
nation. The Lieutenant hastened away, and 
Fanny opened the door. 

Mrs. Billmer pettishly threw aside her hat 
and cloak. She was vexed at such “bold im- 
pertinence!” “How dared he?” “You gave 
him cause,” whispered conscience. “That is 
not true,” answered selfishness; and conscience, 
accustomed to bad treatment, was silent. 

Fanny, who had seen the kissing, and partly 
understood the position, felt induced, both from 
duty and desire, to give her lady a scare. 

“It is dreadful how much they talk about 
you here, madam,” she began. 

“About my appearance?” asked Mrs. Billmer, 
turning to the mirror a self-satisfied smile that 
softened her wrath, and added, with a sigh of 
compassion: “Poor ones; it is n’t to be won- 
dered at.” 

“O, of course, every body thinks you are per- 
fectly handsome; but that isn’t what I meant,” 
said the girl. 

“Is it my tasty toilet?” asked Mrs. Billmer. 

“No; it is about this here Lieutenant that 
goes hanging after you, mistress, like a wasp,” 
said Fanny. 


THE STARK FAMILY. 


137 


“Indeed !” 

“Yes, the bathing-maids are awful with their 
talk, and their employers not much better; for 
a good many girls have told me that they 
have heard their mistresses speak really naughty 
things about you,” said Fanny. 

“Well, what reply do you make to such con- 
temptible scandal?” 

Mrs. Billmer had become pale, and her eyes 
emitted sparks of rage that almost intimidated 
Fanny from proceeding, all the more as she saw 
that the truth, misconstrued through exaggera- 
tion, which she had uttered, required the addi- 
tion of an unmixed falsehood; but she quickly 
composed herself and said: 

“I? Well, I said that they ought to be 
ashamed, I said; and I know, I said, my mis- 
tress has got both husband and child in Norr- 
land, said I.” . 

“And you thought thus to protect me from 
slander?” said Mrs. Billmer, casting a look of 
scorn at her simple-minded servant, and then 
relapsing into thought. 

Suddenly she lifted her head, with a look of 
triumph, and said: 

“To-morrow I wish you to tell in confidence 
all whom you meet that Miss Stark is engaged 
to Lieutenant Nollcn.” 


133 


LENA. 


“Is it possible!” exclaimed Fanny. 

“Yes,” said Mrs. Billmer. “But, of course, 
you must n’t say that I told you of this, for they 
desire that the engagement should not be made 
public here ; but you must appear as if you had 
found it out yourself, and only told of it for the 
purpose of explaining why he is so much in our 
company. If you can manage to have this gen- 
erally circulated within twenty-four hours, you 
can calculate upon a good reward.” 

Fanny, who not for a moment doubted her 
ability to do as required, humbly thanked her 
mistress. 

Mrs. Billmer lay long awake, grieving at the 
evil-mindedness of the world, that would not 
allow one the pleasure of a little “innocent flir- 
tation,” which appeared to her as allowable as 
it was indispensable, while spending time at a 
fashionable watering-place ; but, as her own sense 
of delicacy had sustained no shock, she soon 
consoled herself by thinking of the artfulness 
she displayed in arranging for the execution of 
her plan to make a match between Lieutenant 
Nollen and Elsie, or, if this did not succeed, in 
making the world believe they were engaged. 
With great esteem for her inventiveness, and no 
remorse for her folly, she finally fell asleep. 

With surprise, but satisfaction, Mrs. Billmer 


THE STARK FAMILY. 


139 


heard next morning, from Elsie, that she designed 
spending the forenoon with Axel on the water. 
An opportunity thus early for speaking with Nol- 
len was quite welcome to her. Nor did she have 
to wait long. His hesitation as he entered, 
which seemed caused by mixed feelings of 
shame and admiration, each struggling for su- 
premacy, was extremely ludicrous. 

So great was Mrs. Billmer’s inclination to 
laugh that she had great difficulty in assuming 
womanly dignity, with which it was now neces- 
sary to meet him. However, she did manage 
to control herself, and cast a t the awkward 
Lieutenant a proud look, who, in his confusion, 
was making convulsive efforts to bite his 
mustache. 

“I am sorry that Miss Stark is not at home,” 
began Mrs. Billmer. 

“Who can miss the moon, when the sun is 
shedding around him its glory?” said the Lieu- 
tenant; and, quickened by his eloquence, he 
ceased biting his mustache. 

“Well, now, speak honestly, and confess that 
little Elsie’s person and fortune immediately pro- 
duced a pleasant impression,” said Mrs. Billmer. 

“Yes, that is true,” said the Lieutenant; 
“but who can rule his own heart?” 

And, as he spoke, he gave Mrs. Billmer a 


140 


LENA. 


look containing as much fire as was possible for 
his little gray eyes; but Mrs. Billmer seemed 
all unconscious, and continued, in a patronizing, 
motherly tone: 

“As an old friend, I advise you not to let 
such an opportunity escape. The girl is good, 
and easily managed. As yet, she has some 
overstrained ideas of religion; but that is some- 
thing that soon evaporates. As to her fortune, 
I need say no more. Think what a future — 
without debt, and with a handsome yearly 
income !” 

The Lieutenant became thoughtful. Was it 
not his duty to listen to the voice of reason? 
He thought of, the sacrifice he should make in 
giving up his liberty, and this little amour, which 
just now seemed so pleasant. “O, if Mrs. 
Billmer were a rich widow,” he sighed, “how 
much happier would I then be!” But he re- 
solved to be heroic, and banish all selfish de- 
sires, that he might receive with magnanimity 
what fate, now offered him — a fortune and a 
wife. That Elsie might possibly have right to 
a higher destiny than the payment of his debts, 
was a thought that not for a moment occurred 
to him. After some silence, he gave a deep 
sigh, and said, “O, well! it is the path of duty, 
and this I must pursue.” 


THE STARK FAMILY. 


141 

Mrs. Billmer regarded her victory as almost 
too easily gained. His admiration for her ought 
to have rendered it to him a matter more diffi- 
cult to listen to this advice; and, with a look 
that again threw him into confusion, she said: 

“Much joy! but don’t forget an old friend.” 

Could he be mistaken? Did not her voice 
tremble, and her little hand, too, as it rested 
in his? But when he made an appearance of 
renewing last night’s scene, she quickly drew 
back, and again stood cold and crushing. 

With a sigh, and in thoughtful mood, the 
Lieutenant took leave; but what would have 
been his thoughts and feelings could he have 
seen the unrestrained mirth to which Mrs. Bill- 
mer abandoned herself when sure that he was 
out of hearing. 

Little did Elsie surmise, as she entered the 
anteroom, what arrangement had been made for 
her during her absence. A feeling somewhat 
disagreeable awoke in Mrs. Billmer as she met 
the pure, innocent look of Elsie, in which she 
read unconscious reproof. Had she for a mo- 
ment thought of Elsie’s happiness when laying 
plans for her future? No; but why should she 
not be happy with Nollen? He was just as 
good as any body else; and thus again she 
silenced conscience. 


142 


LENA. 


It seemed to Elsie that Mrs. Billmer wore a 
look of dissatisfaction; and, always ready to sus- 
pect herself of being at fault, she hastened to 
apologize for her long absence. 

“You must have waited for me,” said she. 

“O, to be sure, I have missed you,” replied 
Mrs. Billmer; “but it has been still worse for 
Nollen. He seemed very melancholy when he 
came and found that you were absent.” 

“Can he seem melancholy?” asked Elsie, mer- 
rily. “I have never seen him otherwise than 
smiling.” 

“Fie! what a heartless jest!” said Mrs. Bill- 
mer. “He surely deserves that you should show 
more regard for his feelings.” 

Elsie, who would not hurt a worm, became 
quite distressed that her words should have 
seemed heartless, although she could n’t quite 
comprehend the serious manner in which Mrs. 
Billmer spoke of Nollen’s feelings. 

“O, I meant nothing so bad,” replied Elsie. 
“Surely, no one is more willing than I to ac- 
knowledge his merits.” 

“Yes, his merits are great. He is the most 
amiable and upright young man of my acquaint- 
ance. The girl whom he chooses for his wife is 
a fortunate one,” said Mrs. Billmer. 

Elsie had a great mind to offer some objec* 


THE STARK FAMILY. 


143 


tion, but peace was dear to her and the theme 
too indifferent; nor was it necessary to say that 
she thought him insipid and superficial. She 
had more agreeable subjects for thought — the 
pleasant hours spent with Axel upon the water, 
where it had been her privilege to whisper to 
him words of hope and encouragement, and find 
him listen to them willingly, although without 
reply; while he, on the other hand, had told 
her of the wonders of creation which had their 
abode in the depths of the sea, and awakened 
her interest in the infinite variety moving there. 

When, in the course of the afternoon, they 
came upon the park, Mrs. Billmer left Elsie 
with a group of young girls, while herself went, 
with much dignity, and took a seat among the 
elder ladies, a precaution which she was in the 
habit of taking occasionally, and regarded as 
a kind of penance. After having listened for 

a while patiently to Baroness S , in her 

descriptions of her sufferings from rheumatic 
convulsions, and the suggestions of numerous 
remedies from the other ladies, she had the 
satisfaction of seeing one of the young ladies 
approach her mother and exclaim: 

“You can’t imagine how absent-minded Elsie 
is! We have been speaking to her about the 
most interesting things in the world — amusements 


144 


LENA. 


that she ought to enjoy, and other things; but 
she has appeared as if she hardly heard what 
we were saying — so exceedingly indifferent, and 
yet so happy! It is certainly true. See! Mrs. 
Billmer can not keep her countenance!” 

“I am not aware of what you are speaking,” 
said the intriguing woman, assuming a look of 
bewilderment. 

“Elsie’s engagement, of course. All the world 
is speaking about it,” said the young lady. 

“Alas! how busy the world is!” said Mrs. Bill- 
mer, sighing and pressing the hand of Mrs. G , 

the mamma mentioned, as if imploring sympa- 
thy. “To introduce a young girl into society is 
a responsible undertaking. I myself need advice 
and guidance. My inexperience and natural gay- 
ety render me unfit to fulfill my duty toward the 
child confided to my care.” 

Mrs. G found Mrs. Billmer so interesting 

in her expression of helplessness and self-accu- 
sation that she good-naturedly forgot how she 
had held the same opinion with Mrs. Billmer 
concerning that lady’s fitness for the care of a 
young girl. 

During the evening, the news of Elsie’s en- 
gagement came from different directions, and 
received from Mrs. Billmer more or less cor- 
roboration. The more confidence she saw the 


THE STARK FAMILY. 


145 


rumor attained, the more cautious she seemed. 
No one could suspect that she was the person 
who had circulated the story, so she concluded 
to deny that there was any foundation for it. 
Elsie seemed the only one who was unconscious 
of what was passing so near her concerning her- 
self; and the tittering insinuations of the young 
ladies escaped her comprehension, as did so 
much else of their frivolous talk. 


10 














Cfykptef XIII. 


THE MEETING. 



I FEW days afterward, Elsie stood in the 
|| common “ dolce farnfonte ” of Marstrand, 
watching the arrival of a steamer, when 
an expression of sudden delight escaped 
her, and she hastened to meet a fine-look- 
ing gentleman attired as a traveler. 

“Thorsten! Are you here?” she exclaimed. 
“O, how glad I am to see you!” 

Her happy surprise brought to his cheeks a 
glow, and no wonder that the open, manly 
countenance was illuminated with a smile as 
warm if not warmer than that with which the 
student used to meet his little friend. 

“Thank you, Elsie,” said he, and caught 
both her hands. “How changed you are, and 
yet just like yourself!” 

“Where do you come from?” asked Elsie. 

“From Stockholm*. I brought much love 
from your father and aunt,” he replied. “The 
146 


THE STARK FAMILY. 


147 


home seemed very empty, although as quiet and 
good as ever. I stayed there a few days; and 
now have come here to see you and Axel before 
returning to my business.” 

“How kind you are! Come with me to 
Axel,” said Elsie; and, utterly unconscious of 
the looks of curiosity with which she was being 
regarded, she took Thorsten’s arm, and went to 
seek her brother. 

Mrs. Billmer, who was engaged in lively con- 
versation with an acquaintance whom she had 
discovered upon the steamer, did not notice the 
meeting; while Nollen, on the contrary, who 
during the last few days, with commendable 
zeal, had put himself into his new relationship, 
seldom departing from Elsie’s side, stood looking 
surprised and flattened. Who could it be that 
was so heartily welcomed by his betrothed? 

When Mfs. Billmer had waved her last adieu, 
she became accessible to questioners, by whom 
she was besieged. 

“Who was that elegant gentleman whom 
Elsie was so glad to see?” 

“Could he be an elder brother?” 

“No; that is impossible.” 

“Did you see what a handsome smile he had?” 

“Yes; and such beautiful teeth.” 

Lieutenant Nollen became impatient at hear- 


48 


LENA. 


ing the encomiums of the young ladies, and 
declared that he could n’t help envying the 
stranger who only needed to show himself in 
order to conquer all hearts. 

“Well, Lieutenant Nollen, look out for 

Elsie,” said Hilda G , roguishly, and the 

young ladies tittered in chorus. 

Mrs. Billmer’s curiosity being raised to the 
highest pitch, she hastened home in order to 
have it satisfied. There she found Axel, Elsie, 
and the unknown, whom Elsie presented as her 
foster-brother, Judge Holt. 

Thorsten’s address and superior bearing pro- 
duced so favorable an impression upon Mrs. 
Billmer that she resolved to bestow upon him 
her most winning smiles and attentions, which 
would really have been quite too much for 
Nollen, but were received by Thorsten with 
calm politeness. 

She soon succeeded in usurping the lead of 
conversation, from which Axel and Elsie were 
excluded. Thorsten, however, was sometimes 
graciously afforded an opportunity for speaking. 
He had a rare gift for description, and his ac- 
count of a journey abroad, which he had re- 
cently made, was highly interesting. Etiquette 
required that he should address his words to 
Mrs. Billmer; but his look oftener rested upon 


THE STARK FAMILY.. 


149 


Elsie, and she felt that he was speaking to her. 
And she thought of when, as a child, she had 
sat so many twilight hours upon his knee, list- 
ening while he told stories, sometimes so fan- 
tastic and fearful as to frighten her and cause 
her to hide her face in his breast. How kind 
then he used to be, patting her curly head 
while he assured her that there were no such 
things as wizards and witches, and' that there 
was nothing in the world that could hurt those 
who loved God! 

Why were these reminiscences so precious to 
her? She knew not, nor did she ask herself. 

Thus the, evening passed. As Thorsten took 
leave, he found opportunity to ask her, unno- 
ticed : 

“Where have your thoughts been? You 
have seemed so dreamy!” 

“I hardly know,” answered Elsie, blushing, 
while her eye fell. Had she looked up, and 
met the glance which, full of tenderness, rested 
upon her, she would perhaps have more easily 
comprehended the language of her heart. 

How she longed for the next day, and an 
opportunity to speak alone with Thorsten ! 
There was so much she wished to confide to 
him: her anxieties and hopes concerning Axel, 
her own lack of strength to resist the allure- 


LENA. 


150 

ments of society. He should hear all, and he 
would advise, support, and assist her. . She 
felt secure and happy in the thought of his 
protection. But, how strange! hour after hour 
of the next day passed, and no Thorsten ap- 
peared. Axel, too, impatiently consulted his 
watch, wondering if Thorsten would not soon 
appear, to go with him on a sailing trip, and 
had afterward gone out to seek him. 

Finally, a step was heard in the entrance, the 
door opened, and — in stepped Lieutenant Nollen. 
Never before had -he seemed to Elsie so utterly 
disgusting. 

“What unexpected fortune I have in finding 
the ladies alone!” he exclaimed. “How are 
you? Your absence from the ball last night 
caused much regret. There was dancing, and 
an unusually lively time.” 

“Was it regret at our absence that made the 
dancing so lively?” asked Mrs. Billmer, smiling. 

“Cruel critic, scoffing at my grief!” said the 
Lieutenant. 

Elsie went to the piano, to escape partici- 
pating in a conversation that seemed to her so 
nauseous. 

“O, yes; let us hear some music,” exclaimed 
the Lieutenant. 

Elsie was proficient in music, and now longed 


THE STARK FAMILY. 1 5 I 

to give expression in its tones to the dim fore- 
bodings and emotions that were stirring within 
her. She forgot every thing around her. Never 
had she performed so before. Her music and 
whole person seemed to gleam with inspiration; 
and when NoHen came to the piano, and assumed 
a position so expressive of admiration and con- 
fidence, she was unconscious of his presence 
there. Nor did she see the tall, earnest-looking 
man, who leaned against the door-frame, con- 
templating her with a grief so bitter that it 
sought to hide itself behind an appearance of 
coldness. 

Suddenly the spell was broken — her eye met 
his. A chill went through her heart. She be- 
lieved she read in his looks a disapprobation 
that bordered upon contempt, and she thought, 
with bitter anguish, “He must have heard how 
thoughtlessly and frivolously I have acted — that 
I have danced!” 

The music ceased. Thorsten entered, and 
bowed. He had regained his composure, and 
spoke, in a calm, fatherly tone, to Elsie, of her 
music, her attainment in which astonished him. 

“It was too bad that I should come and 
interrupt you,” said he; “will you not pro- 
ceed?” 

“No; I am unable to do so,” she replied, 


/ 


152 


LENA. 


turning quickly around, as if to arrange her 
sheets of music. 

Mrs. Billmer now tried to draw Thorsten into 
an extensive conversation upon music, which act 
soon drove Nollen from the house, while Thors- 
ten had much difficulty in giving due attention 
to her shallow remarks. 

When Mrs. Billmer had exhausted herself, 
without having succeeded in engaging Thorsten, 
conversation dragged, and seemed threatened 
with a breakdown. It was, therefore, a wel- 
come interruption to the hostess, when Fanny 
entered to say that a box and trunk had been 
brought from the steamer, and the carriers were 
waiting for their pay. 

“O, my new dress from Ahlberg, and bonnet 
from Mrs. Sorenson!” exclaimed Mrs. Billmer. 
“ Excuse me, I shall return in a minute;” and, 
with a sweet smile, she hurried out to take a 
view of these treasures. 

Elsie and Thorsten were alone. Before, she 
had avoided looking at him ; now, she lifted her 
head, and her little pale countenance was so sad 
that the ice around his heart melted. All self- 
ish pain disappeared, and, with thought alone 
for her, he asked: 

“Elsie, is what I have heard of you to-day 
true?” 


THE STARK FAMILY. 


153 


“Yes,” she replied, 

“What will uncle and aunt say?” he con- 
tinued. 

“I hope they will forgive me,” said Elsie. 
“I have written a long letter to aunt, telling her 
all — my repentance, and all about it.” 

“How?” asked Thorsten. “Do you already 
repent this step?” 

“Yes; can you doubt this?” she asked, and 
big, bright tears went rolling down her cheeks. 
“It was very naughty of me to dance; but you 
must n’t for this reason consider me a hardened 
sinner.” 

“Because you danced!” exclaimed Thorsten. 
“Was this all you had to confess?” 

“Yes,” answered Elsie. 

We should conclude, from the lighting up of 
joy in Thorsten’s dark eye, that he seemed not 
inclined to judge this sin so severely. 

“I was already full of worldly thoughts be- 
fore I danced,” continued she; “but dancing 
just caused me to feel the danger of the life 
into which I was throwing myself, and I hope 
that, after this, I shall be more watchful and 
faithful. ” 

“Forgive me, you dear, innocent child!” 
cried Thorsten, seizing both Elsie’s hands, which 
he seemed unwilling to let go. 


154 


LENA. 


How, for a moment, could lie have believed 
the rumor of her engagement with Nollen? 
But had he done her an injustice, he had already- 
suffered the punishment for it. He had expe- 
rienced a bitter pain, that had opened his eyes 
to the fact that the child whose image he kept 
among his dearest recollections had gained a 
new power over his heart, which, was not that 
of recollection, but of hope. He read in her 
open eye that she was free, and a rapturous joy 
filled him. She was so young, so tender, that 
his lips closed again when he opened them to 
speak his love. An authoress says that the love 
of a noble man resembles maternal love; and, 
like a tender mother, Thorsten wished to shield 
and keep the beloved one from every disturbing 
impression, shield her from the world, and — 
from himself. 

“Yes; let the young soul develop quietly! 
I will trust, and wait patiently,” he thought, 
and let go her hands. 

A little silence ensued, which, like the sun- 
shine, seemed to disperse all clouds. 

“Tell me something about yourself, Thors- 
ten, ” said Elsie, “about your every-day life at 
Tanarp, and how you get along with your aged 
friend.” 

“Of my daily life, there isn’t much to be 


THE STARK FAMILY. 


155 


said,” replied Thorsten. “Fortunately, I have 
plenty to do, or the emptiness in a home with- 
out family life would be still more felt than it 
now is. In food, drink, and regularity, nothing 
is wanting; but female society and a Christian 
atmosphere all the more so.” 

“That is hard,” said Elsie. “So, you and 
Judge Dangel do not sympathize in what is of 
the most importance.” 

“No,” said Thorsten. “He is a man of the 
world, who goes his way with happy ideas of 
his own perfection. I believe that religion is 
the only subject that can irritate him. He calls 
it cant.” 

“Well, but do n’t you often irritate him 
then?” asked Elsie. 

“At first, I tried to lead him to the subject; 
but his excitement became so great as to make 
it disagreeable for us both. And I do n’t be- 
lieve that any blessing results from angry dis- 
pute,” said Thorsten. 

“Well, but it is sad for one to have no influ- 
ence with a person whose daily company he 
has, and for whom he feels friendship and grati- 
tude,” said Elsie. 

“Do you believe that words are a Christian’s 
only weapons?” asked Thorsten. “Yet you are 
right ; it is sad to see him so. My hope rests 


156 


LENA. 


in the future. If ever I am so happy as to have 
a loving, intelligent wife, it will be her work to 
soften and warm the old bachelor’s heart, and 
lead him to the Savior. No one could believe 
more fervently than I do in the blessing of a 
Christian family life — I, who in your home was 
first brought to understand what Christianity is, 
both to this life and the future one.” 

When Thorsten spoke of his wife, Elsie felt 
embarrassed and confused; but his last words 
gave her thoughts a different direction. She 
sighed, and said: 

“Alas! what can home do? Axel says that 
he is no longer a Christian.” 

“Is it possible!” exclaimed Thorsten. 

“Yes. Speak with him,” said Elsie. “He 
has opened his heart to me; but what can I do? 
He listens kindly while I am speaking, and I 
was so foolish as to think that I could draw him 
back; but I see I can not. He-^” 

The door opened; and in came Mrs. Billmer, 
rustling, smiling, beaming. 

“Pardon me, good Judge, for being so ex- 
ceedingly impolite as to remain absent so long; 

I had to try on my new dress. What do you 
say to it, little Elsie?” said she, with a look 
which plainly told that Thorsten was the one 
expected to reply, and with a compliment. So, 


THE STARK FAMILY. 157 

seeing that Elsie’s thoughts were elsewhere, he 
hastened to say; 

“Charming!” 

“Yes, it is quite pretty. And the bonnet; 
how do you like it?” said Mrs. Billmer, casting 
a look of sweetness upon her reflection in the 
looking-glass. 

“It is very lovely,” said Elsie, who, indeed, 
was enough a daughter of Eve to understand 
the thing, and judge with taste. 

“Would it be unreasonable to undertake a 
little walk in the park?” said Mrs. Billmer, 
desirous of exhibiting her new toilet. “The 
Judge, of course, will favor us with his com- 
pany?” 

“Yes; with the greatest pleasure,” answered 
Thorsten, in a lively manner, that was quite 
misunderstood by Mrs. Billmer; for, as Elsie 
went to her room for her bonnet, she followed 
her, and whispered: 

“Do you know, he was quite charmed when 
he saw me? He seemed so grave when he 
came; but now he looks quite lively and cheer- 
ful. I have certainly made a conquest there; a 
fit recompense for the loss, of Nollen, whom you 
have fooled away from me.” 

Having spoken thus, she hastened back to 
Thorsten, without perceiving how Elsie col- 


153 


LENA. 


ored, and the disagreeable impression her words 
had produced, so apparent in the countenance 
of the young girl, whose ears had never been 
accustomed to unseemly jest. 



XIV. 



“BE NOT WISE IN THINE OWN EYES: FEAR THE LORD, 
AND DEPART FROM EVIL.” 

^OME hours later, we fiqd Thorsten and 
Axel walking slowly along the road 
that leads from the quay to the pow- 
der-magazine, protected on one side by 
the gray wall of cliffs, on the other threat- 
ened by the sea, whose powerful waves 
occasionally threw surging scum to the feet of 
the rovers. They seem to be enjoying, the 
grand appearance of the sea, which in turbulent 
tones is singing its deep, wailing song. 

However, the thoughts of Thorsten are more 
occupied with the storm which he believes rag- 
ing in the breast of his silent friend than that 
which was rising upon the ocean. He longed 
to reach him a helping hand; but feared un- 
bidden to seek Axel's confidence, lest he should 
awaken the irritable pride that he knew so well 
of yore. It was, therefore, an unexpected 

159 


6o 


LENA. 


pleasure to him, when Axel suddenly turned 
toward him with the question: 

“Do you believe in the doctrine of recon- 
ciliation?” 

“Yes,” answered Thorsten, firmly. “Are 
you one of the many unhappy ones who reject 
the only way to life and blessedness?” 

“I do not seek to reject; but I can not un- 
derstand. I feel myself rejected, lost, and mis- 
erable,” said Axel. 

“It is good for you to have come so far,” 
remarked -Thorsten. 

“Do you scoff at me?” asked Axel. 

“No; God forbid that I should do so,” re- 
plied Thorsten. “You see your peril, and it 
surprises me that you have so soon had your 
eyes opened. An outspoken joy is more com- 
mon with young heroes of skepticism.” 

“There was a time,” said Axel, “when I 
/elt this joy; but it procured for me no peace. 
I believed I had found the right way to bliss in 
the enlightenment of my intellect, and I went 
quickly forward ; but what I sought I never 
found. So long as I was engaged only in de- 
molishing and rejecting, my courage was firm, 
and my belief in an ideal beauty that, as I ex- 
pected, was to spring out from amid the ruins. 
I was happy, and full of anticipation. All 


THE STARK FAMILY. 


161 

educational bias was thrown off. Christ and 
Christianity I arraigned in their original beauty 
at the bar of human reason; but, with horror, 
soon found that all the Christ that was left me 
was an empty shell, and I threw away the last 
splinters of the faith of my childhood. I would 
not so much as be called a Christian. Philos- 
ophy became my only hope; but as yet it has 
not given me peace, nor has it been any staff to 
me — and I am so weary, O, so weary! From 
the depths of my heart, I long to go back to 
the peace of my childhood.” 

As Axel spoke, his emaciated features bore 
the stamp of intense suffering. 

‘ ‘ Why, then, do you not obey the voice that 
calls you back?” asked Thorsten, tenderly. 

“There is no retrogression in human devel- 
opment,” answered Axel. 

“Yes; there you are right,” answered Thors- 
ten. “You must experience the new birth.” 

“How?” asked Axel; “does not your reason 
rebel against such unnatural teaching?” 

“No,” replied Thorsten; “but it certainly 
must rebel against any denial of what I have 
myself experienced.” 

“What, then, is the new birth?” asked Axel. 

“I can give you no other answer than that 
which the Master himself gave : ‘ The wind 

ii 


LENA. 


162 

bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the 
sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it com- 
eth and whither it goeth : so is every one that 
is born of the Spirit.’ ” 

“O, it is very convenient to come with this 
obscure oracle,” said Axel, impatiently. “Tell 
me what you have experienced.” 

“I fear that my experience would give you 
little satisfaction. It is what every Christian 
must go through — an experience of sin and 
grace,” replied Thorsten. 

“And are you sure of possessing the grace 
of God?” continued Axel. 

“Yes! God is a God of holiness and truth. 
How could I, then, doubt his Word?” said 
Thorsten. 

“Elsie, too, speaks of the grace of God with 
an assurance of faith that sounds to my ear like 
sweet distant music, the strains of which only 
serve to render the distance perceptible. I listen 
willingly to her words; but they only increase 
the hopelessness I feel afterward,” said Axel. 

“Dear Axel!” exclaimed Thorsten, “do ban- 
ish this sickly despair! Humble yourself before 
the Lord! Lay down your weapons of rebell- 
ion, and think not to climb to heaven upon the 
web of human reason, or that your intellect can 
throw light upon the Word of God, when, on 


THE STARK FAMILY. 


63 


the contrary, it is the Word of God that must 
enlighten you. Pray for light ; and, even should 
you have to wait for its bestowment, do not de- 
spair! Through prayer you submit your cause 
into good hands. With all respect for theology 
and philosophy, I advise you to shut your books 
and look around in life. To be sure, there is 
much misery in the world — no one has a better 
opportunity for seeing this than a lawyer; but, 
too, there is much to be found of a different 
character, worthy our attention and interest. 
Shake off the dust of books, and study man. 
Perhaps, in doing so, .you will more easily un- 
derstand yourself.” 

Axel listened attentively. His countenance 
brightened. 

“ Thanks for your advice,” said he. “My 
resolve is made. I shall go abroad in the Fall. 
I think father will be willing.” 

Thorsten started, and said: 

“So soon decided? Then may my advice 
prove to be as good as it is well-meant! But 
do not follow it half-way; for then your condi- 
tion might become all the worse. It is not for 
the sake of enabling you to forget your disquiet, 
but for the sake of your health, I recommend 
you to change air. Peace you will never find 
among men — only in the Son of God.” 


164 


LENA. 


“And do you believe that I can find him — I, 
who have denied him?” said Axel. 

“Do you remember how it went with Peter 
when he denied his Lord? ‘Jesus turned and 
looked upon him,’ the Bible says. Don’t you 
think that it is this look of his that awakened 
unrest in your soul? And after, like Peter, you 
have wept bitterly, the day, too, will come, 
when with him you can answer our Savior’s 
question, ‘Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou 
me?’ ‘Lord, thou knowest all things. Thou 
knowest that I love thee.’” 

Thorsten spoke with a strength and assurance 
that seemed prophetic, and his words thrilled the 
soul of Axel. Elsie had succeeded in awaking 
a longing within him, but Thorsten yet more. 
He showed him not only the lost paradise, but 
also the one regained — a hope for his life. Far 
away, it lay unattained before him; but it beck- 
oned him forward! He felt like a weary wan- 
derer in the desert, ready to drop from thirst 
and fatigue, seized by a strong hand that pointed 
to a gushing fountain. O, how refreshing was 
this thought, although his parched lips had not 
as yet tasted “the living water!” He leaned 
against the wall of the cliff, and threw a long 
look over the sea — not a wandering and restless 
one, as when he sought in its hollow roar the 


THE STARK FAMILY. 


165 


resonance of his own pain, but one which 
seemed to have an aim outside the boundary 
of material things. Half unconsciously, a sigh 
escaped him — a sigh that arose upon the wings 
of prayer. 

“You must not think,” said Thorsten, 
“when I ask you to close your books, that I 
mean the Bible also. No; let this accompany 
you, and become your light and your staff.” 

“How shall it become a light to me, when I 
find it only a dark saying, full of contradictions?” 
asked Axel. 

“Then you have not sought light in it,” said 
Thorsten. “You have read the Bible in the 
character of a master, and not with the mind of 
a disciple.” 

“It can not become clear to me before my 
intellect has grasped it. If this is what you call 
reading it in the character of a master, then 
your assertion is right. I acknowledge no other 
way to spiritual development than that which is 
illuminated by my intellect.” 

The desire for argument had again flamed up 
in Axel, driving out the better feelings which so 
recently had stirred in his heart. 

“Alas! Axel,” said Thorsten, “you speak 
like one who knows not that there is a Holy 
Ghost. The preaching of the Cross is, and will 


LENA. 


1 66 

ever be, to the Jews a stumbling-block, and to 
the Greeks foolishness. Human reason can 
never form any conception of the mystery of 
the love of God, revealed in Jesus Christ, until 
the heart, through the operation of the Holy 
Ghost has experienced its divine power. Then 
reason, too, will find a firm pillar of support in 
the simple fact, ‘Thus it is written.’ Then we 
receive the Word as the living truth, which, 
amid the darkness of life and the hour of death, 
pours upon us its light and consolation.” 

These words produced upon Axel a deeper 
impression than he was willing to admit. Yet 
his desire was for contest, and he was not at 
loss for a reply; but Thorsten kept him back, 
and said ! 

“We will not let our conversation go over to 
useless dispute. I am determined, if Providence 
permits, to come to you again in a year from 
next Fall. Answer me then.” 

They had left the path, and now met a crowd 
of promenaders, among whom was Lieutenant 
Nollen, who deemed it expedient to improve 
this opportunity for seeking a familiar footing 
with his future “brother-in-law.” 

“See ‘The Hermit upon John’s Shoal,’ ‘The 
Viking,’ and I do n’t know how many romantic 
names our young ladies give you,” said Nollen, 


THE STARK FAMILY. 1 67 

seizing Axel’s arm, to which manifestation of 
friendship he not very willingly submitted. 

“ Judge,” he continued, turning to Thorsten, 
“You can not imagine what coquetry this young 
gentleman displays. He steps forward as a mis- 
anthrope, and has produced an effect that is in- 
credible. When one has black hair, and dark 
eyes, he can not choose a better genre. Too 
bad, that I am not of that style.” 

“If Axel is appreciated, it is through his 
absence. One should try this,” said Thorsten. 

“Thanks for your advice. It is unselfish,” 
replied Nollen, fancying himself overpowering. 
He regarded Thorsten as a dangerous rival, 
who, in a low, intriguing manner sought to rob 
him of the fortune which he considered already 
his own. 

“If Lieutenant Nollen is so grateful for good 
advice, I can give more,” said Thorsten. 

“No, thank you! I need no legal assist- 
ance,” replied the little man, flaring up, and 
looking so ludicrous as to draw from even Axel 
a smile; and, as Nollen felt that Thorsten’ s' 
calmness was liable to irritate him more should 
their words go on, with a proud look, and the 
dignity of a provoked turkey-cock, he bowed, 
and passed on. 

“And he was to become Elsie’s husband,” 


LENA. 


1 68 

said Thorsten, gazing smilingly after the ludi- 
crous little figure. 

“Who has spoken such nonsense ?” asked 
Axel. 

“I have heard it from at least twenty per- 
sons,” answered Thorsten. 

“Are people blind?” said Axel. “Do they 
not see that he is chained to the wheels of Mrs. 
Billmer’s triumphal chariot?” 

“As to his intentions, other people may be 
more keen-sighted than you are,” replied Thor- 
sten; “but they seem to forget that Elsie’s con- 
sent is requisite.” 

“He can not be so foolish as to venture to 
hope.” 

“Why not?” said Thorsten. “He pursues 
Elsie like a shadow; and if you had seen how 
he stood leaning over the piano, when she sat 
performing there this morning, you would doubt 
neither his intentions nor anticipations.” 

“What impertinence!” exclaimed Axel; 
“but the fault is Mrs. Billmer’s. She has en- 
couraged and invited him from the moment we 
first stepped upon shore here, and, with a punct- 
uality that would do honor to a city messenger, 
he has gone running around, performing all her 
errands. It has never occurred to me that he 
had any time to think of Elsie.” 


THE STARK xFAMILY. 169 

“Then you couldn’t have given much atten- 
tion to him.” 

“No; his presence annoys me. His and 
Mrs. Billmer’s gossip is unendurable.” 

“So you resigned the pleasure of it to Elsie,” 
said Thorsten. 

“You mean that I have acted in a manner 
miserably selfish; and you are right,” said Axel. 
“But what can I do for Elsie? How rid her of 
this human wasp?” 

“It seems as if you would like to throw him 
into the water,” said Thorsten; “but all I can 
advise you to do is to give more time and at- 
tention to your sister. What Elsie most needs 
is the presence here of some elderly lady friend 
when Mrs. Billmer seeks to draw her into pleas- 
ures that wound her conscience. I am glad to 
say that I have an aged female friend here, who 
will be pleased to take Elsie into her friendship 
when she becomes acquainted with her. Mrs. 
Hervig is a lady of uncommon cultivation, and, 
what is more, a warm Christian. She is a widow, 
and lives within my jurisdiction, on an estate be- 
longing to herself and two sons. I have received 
much hospitality at her house, and once had an 
opportunity to do her a service that gained for 
me her friendship. She is here in the hope of 
overcoming the effect of a long and painful 


LENA. 


170 

rheumatic fever, by which she was confined to 
her bed the greatest part of last Winter. I am 
just now thinking of calling upon her, and shall 
speak to her of Elsie. Mrs. Hervig is, by her 
disease as well as taste, kept from mingling in 
the social life here; but Elsie will find a quiet, 
pleasant retreat in her society, when she does 
not wish to accompany Mrs. Billmer, and can 
not accompany you.” 

“A sick-room would certainly be a sure re- 
treat both from Nollen and Mrs. Billmer; but it 
seems to me to be a somewhat dismal one for a 
girl of seventeen,” said Axel. 

“Mrs. Hervig is an invalid, but not sick,” re- 
plied Thorsten. “I have no intention of shut- 
ting Elsie up in a sick-room. Mrs. Hervig loves 
flowers and fresh air as much as Elsie herself; 
and I shall be much mistaken if a better affin- 
ity does not exist between them than between 
Elsie and Mrs. Billmer.” 

“There is no harm in trying,” said Axel. 
“I comprehend fully what advantage it would 
be to Elsie to have good female society. You 
deport yourself toward her in a manner more 
brotherly than I have done.” 

“O, don’t say so. I am a great egotist,” 
replied Thorsten, and disappeared within the 
door of the house occupied by Mrs. Hervig. 



dlikptef XV. 

VANITY. 

N Mrs. Billmer’s sleeping apartment, 
dresses, etc., lay spread over all the 
chairs and tables, for the sake of re- 
viewal and selection. The tired-out, vexed 
If appearance of Fanny witnessed that the 
t scene had already lasted long, although 
Mrs. Billmer had not as yet been able to 
make the all-important decision in what dress 
she should appear for making her new conquests. 

“Elsie! Elsie!” she cried, impatiently; “come 
here and help me!” 

“Here I am,” responded Elsie. “What do 
you wish?” 

“Tell me which dress to wear to the soiree 
to-night.” 

“That is very becoming to you,” said Elsie, 
pointing to an elegant orange-colored one. 

“I wore that at the last soiree l How can 
you make such a thoughtless proposal?” 

171 



172 


LENA. 


“The light gray barege, then?” 

“No, it is not becoming— it is too quiet,” 
said Mrs. Billmer. 

“The handsome brown silk, then?” 

“It is too dark,” replied Mrs. Billmer; “and 
I am no old woman, although I can not boast 
of being seventeen.” 

“You see I am unable to advise,” said Elsie, 
smiling, and was about to return to the inner 
room, where she had been occupied with copy- 
ing music. 

“How unfriendly you are, to feel so little in- 
terest in me,” said Mrs. Billmer. “It is almost 
time to begin dressing; and yet I don’t know 
what dress I am going to wear. I would like 
to wear the light green, lustrous gauze, if I 
liked the trimming; but that would have to be 
changed, and there is no time.” 

“O yes, there is,” said Elsie, glad of an 
opportunity for retrieving her character. “You, 
Fanny, and I will all take hold, if only you 
know how you will have it.” 

“Thank you, dear little Elsie,” said Mrs. 
Billmer. “You are very kind. I’ll have it 

trimmed exactly like the dress Countess G 

wore — the light gray silk, you know.” 

The sound of the door-bell interrupted a 
detailed description of Countess G ’s dress- 


THE STARK FAMILY. 


173 


trimming; and Fanny, who went to open the 
door, soon returned with the compliments of 
Judge Holt, who asked if it was convenient for 
the ladies to receive him. 

“He is very welcome,” said Mrs. Billmer, 
whose ill-humor had quite disappeared at pros- 
pect of having the dress righted. “Fanny must 
sit here and rip, while we take the waist with us 
to the sitting-room.” 

Mrs. Billmer threw a hasty glance toward the 
looking-glass, and met Thorsten with an apology. 

“Excuse us, good Judge,” said she, “for 
being a little occupied. We have several little 
toilet matters to arrange for the evening soirfe” 

“O, are the ladies bound there?” asked Thor- 
sten, giving Elsie a look of surprise. 

“I am not,” said Elsie, firmly. 

“What do you mean, my dear?” asked Mrs. 
Billmer, a little sharply. 

“I mean that I am not going to the soirte” 
said Elsie. 

“How capricious! and without letting me 
know of your decision!” 

“Excuse me,” said Elsie. “You have not 
asked me whether I was going; and I hadn’t 
as much as thought of there being a soiree 
to-night, until I heard you speak of going, a 
moment ago. ” 


1 74 


LENA. 


“O, you are afraid that you can not get ready 
in time; but any one of your light dresses is 
suitable, and you need be at no trouble,” said 
Mrs. Billmer. 

“I do not lack a dress to go with, but a 
desire,” said Elsie. 

“How can you say so?” asked Mrs. Bill- 
mer. “Did you not confess to Nollen that you 
never could have imagined how pleasant it is to 
dance?” 

“I found pleasure for the moment, after first 
having been drawn into the whirl,” said Elsie; 
“but it would be repulsive to me to go there 
again.” 

“Well, but must one persuade you anew 
every time?” said Mrs. Billmer. “Help me, 
Judge Holt! Last time, it was Nollen who suc- 
ceeded in overcoming her scruples.” 

“Forgive my lack of gallantry; but I can 
not obey the summons to assist in this case,” 
said Thorsten. 

“Is it possible for one who has your culture 
and intelligence, Judge, to disapprove of danc- 
ing?” asked Mrs. Billmer, in surprise. 

“I regret to show myself unworthy your 
flattering opinion, Mrs. Billmer — that is, if you 
consider a high regard for dancing as necessary 
to culture and intelligence,” said Thorsten. 


THE STARK FAMILY. 


175 


“O, no fine words! I demand only the ac- 
knowledgment that dancing is innocent,” said 
Mrs. Billmer. 

“As to this, every one must be his own 
judge,” said Thorsten; “but that all who feel 
dancing wrong ought to be excused from any 
persuasion to participate in it, seems to me in- 
disputable.” 

“But what will the world say, if I go to the 
soiree without Elsie?” 

“Do not let any thought about Elsie disturb 
your pleasure, Mrs. Billmer,” said Thorsten. 
“I have taken the liberty to promise her, on 
my own risk, for the evening, to Mrs. Hervig, 
an old friend of mine, who desires to make the 
acquaintance of my sister.” 

“Mrs. Hervig!” exclaimed Elsie. “Is it the 
handsome old lady with silvery hair and friendly 
eyes, whom I have seen at church, and who in- 
terested me so that I could n’t rest until I had 
learned her name?” 

“Yes, just the same,” said Thorsten. “When 
I spoke of you, she said: ‘Is it that blonde’ — I 
must skip the adjectives — ‘whom I have so often 
seen and wished to know?’ ” 

“O, how pleasant!” exclaimed Elsie. 

“Then may I take you to her?” asked 
Thorsten. 


176 


LENA. 


“Yes, indeed,” replied Elsie. 

“Shall you, too, spend the evening there, 
Judge?” asked Mrs. Billmer. 

"No,” said Thorsten. ,“If I may first take 
Elsie to Mrs. Hervig, I will hope afterward for 
the honor of accompanying Mrs. Billmer to 
the hall.” 

“Well, this is dividing one’s attention as 
befits a true cavalier,” said Mrs. Billmer, feel- 
ing sure that the greater share was meant for 
herself, and not suspecting that care for Elsie 
only could induce Thorsten to forego his desire 
to spend the evening with her and Mrs. Hervig. 

Was Elsie as satisfied with the division of 
attention? We believe not. She had thought 
what a congenially minded trio they would 
form- — Mrs. Hervig, Thorsten, and herself — and 
how much more enjoyment she should have 
of Thorsten’s company with Mrs. Hervig than 
ever it were possible to have in the company of 
Mrs. Billmer, who possessed an uncommon tact 
for usurping the lead of conversation and occu- 
pying the attention of surrounders, although 
without always interesting them. Now Elsie 
saw her good opportunity lost, and why? Be- 
cause the same Thorsten who had judged her 
so severely for dancing now himself wished to 
attend a ball. No wonder that his conduct 


THE STARK FAMILY. 


1 77 


seemed to her strikingly inconsistent. With 
many, it would have been enough to awaken 
jealousy, distrust, and misunderstanding, the 
elements which, fitly compounded, form the ex- 
citing interest of a novel, and, alas! do in real- 
ity embitter many a life. 

But Elsie was no heroine of romance, with 
the power to render life miserable both to her- 
self and others. She looked up to Thorsten, 
like a child who wonders- if it may ask, “Why?” 
and the look of inquiry did not remain unan- 
swered. The words, “When - may I come for 
you?” were only an insignificant question, and 
Mrs. Billmer heard them; but she saw not the 
look accompanying them — that was for Elsie 
only. Could she fully comprehend its language? 
Perhaps not. Was not the love they spoke at 
once so deep and pure as to lead her, in trem- 
bling yet indescribable joy, to suspect the exist- 
ence of a new world, without being able to make 
to herself any clear idea of its treasures? 

“At seven o’clock, I shall be ready,” said 
Mrs. Billmer; “and I think Elsie can be so at 
half-past six. Half an hour, I suppose, is suffi- 
cient for Elsie and Mrs. Hervig?” 

“Half an hour sufficient?” thought Thorsten, 
with a sigh. The ungrateful man, who just now 
had lived through a half-minute full of the richest 
12 


178 


LENA. 


joy, was already murmuring at the shortness 
of time; but, with commendable self-control, he 
bowed acquiescingly, and took leave. 

It was a matter more difficult now for Elsie 
to understand and perform immediately Mrs. 
Billmer’s directions about the dress; but, fortu- 
nately, Mrs. Billmer’s thoughts were too much 
occupied with the all-important work to allow 
any observation of aught so insignificant as the 
workings of a human heart. 

The reader may accuse Thorsten of wavering 
in his praiseworthy resolve to keep silent and 
wait patiently. However, he did not escape 
without self-reproach. To be sure, he had said 
nothing; but he would not undertake self-de- 
fense, when tried by his own conscience. He 
had manifested his feelings; and could he possi- 
bly doubt the sweet hope that smiled upon him 
in the look he so recently met? Only a ques- 
tion, and she would have been bound to him for 
life. She Avould not have hesitated to .give the 
sacred promise of sharing with him earth’s joys 
and sorrows; but this must not be — as yet; so, 
with quick steps, he walked around to pass off 
the time until the hour when he should take 
Elsie to Mrs. Hervig. 



XVI. 

A MATERNAL HEART. 

HE Judge will be here now presently,” 
said Mrs. Billmer, as the clock struck 
half- past six. “What would he say, 
if he knew that I had only begun dressing? 
j But the dress is completed; so you can 
go, Elsie, and prepare him not to expect 
me ready before an hour from now.” 

Mrs. Billmer was not mistaken in supposing 
that Thorsten would be punctual. He was 
there, and Elsie was soon ready to go with him 
to Mrs. Hervig. 

“Is Mrs. Billmer ready too?” asked Thorsten. 

“No,” said Elsie; “she asked me to tell 
you that she can not get ready as soon as she 
expected. You need n’t go for her before half- 
past seven.” 

“Need n’t!” repeated Thorsten; “do you 
think that I am impatient for the pleasure of 
accompanying Mrs. Billmer to the ball?” 

179 



i8o 


LENA. 


“Yes, ” answered Elsie; “I ought to think 
so, since you could judge me so severely. ” 

“Have I judged you severely?” asked 
Thorsten. 

“To be sure you have,” replied Elsie; “you 
were so dreadfully grave, and questioned my 
repentance, when you spoke to me about danc- 
ing; but you asked my pardon — so there is 
nothing to be done about it. Perhaps you, too, 
intend to dance?” she added, roguishly. 

“Yes; if Nollen persuades me,” answered 
Thorsten. 

“Pshaw! How ugly you are!” 

“O, no,” exclaimed Thorsten. “You ought 
rather to say pretty things about rqe for so 
dexterously delivering you from going to the 
soiree with Mrs. Billmer, and, too, for preparing 
you a place of refuge, where you can hide if the 
world, represented in Mrs. Billmer, seeks again 
to entice you to do what your conscience dis- 
approves. I give you, in Mrs. Helvig, a trust- 
worthy friend.” 

“Thank you, Thorsten,” said Elsie. “You 
must have seen how much need I have of help. 
Mrs. Billmer says that I never have thought for 
myself, and perhaps she is right; for it often 
seems to me as if my efforts were like those of 
young swallows learning to fly. I have wings, 


THE STARK FAMILY. 


1 8 1 


knowledge and faith, but they seem all too 
weak. I flutter and flutter; but that is all I 
can do.” 

“When Axel speaks about you, it is riot 
thus,” said Thorsten. “He envies the strength 
of your faith.” 

“O, compared with him, I am quite happy,” 
said Elsie. “I can pray, and in prayer forget 
all grief and disquiet; but then again come 
thousands of little temptations and sins, and 
draw me downward. Then it is I feel that my 
wings are too weak.” 

“Yet they carry you,” said Thorsten. “Fear 
not, dear little bird, that He shall leave you — 
he, without whose will not a sparrow falls to the 
ground. Be cheerful, and you will certainly see 
he lets the wings grow!” 

“Yes; I believe so,” said Elsie, hopefully. 
“In alb my frailty, my heart turns longingly to- 
ward what is great and good in life. I would 
like to be rid of any necessity of seeing what is 
low and miserable in the world, and cling only 
to the fact that God is love.” 

“You desire, then, full blessing while here; 
but you can not expect in time what is prom- 
ised for eternity,” said Thorsten. “Kjerkegaard 
says that a Christian life resembles a ship under 
full sail. When one sees the filling sails, we 


182 


LENA. 



imagine that the wind moves the ship easily 
over the swelling waves; but, at the same time, 
the keel is plowing its furrow in the deep. But 
here we are, at the end of our walk.” 

Elsie was disagreeably surprised at the inter- 
ruption, and felt unprepared for the presentation ; 
but the straightforward manner in which Thor- 
sten, with a significant smile, ' led her to Mrs. 
Hervig and said, “Here she is,” and the hearti- 
ness with which Mrs. Hervig embraced her, 
caused her soon to feel at home. 

“Welcome, dear child,” said Mrs. Hervig, 
giving a searching look into Elsie’s eyes. 
“You were very kind, to give an old lady this 
pleasure.” 

“Don’t say so, Mrs. Hervig. Earn the one 
to feel grateful for being allowed to come,” said 
Elsie, in consciousness of having thought, mostly 
upon herself, when with so much pleasure she 
acquiesced in the arrangement for making this 
visit. 

“I know that we have great interests in com- 
mon,” said Mrs. Hervig, “the same faith and 
same hope, and even an earthly friend who is 
dear to us both;” and, with a friendly nod to 
Thorsten, she added: “Do not seem so uneasy, 
Judge; take a seat, and let us have a cozy time 
together.” 

v v- . - - ■ *" ' * - 


THE STARK FAMILY. 


183 


“I regret that I must decline the enticing 
invitation,” said Thorsten. “My time is prom- 
ised in a different direction.” 

“What!” said Mrs. Hervig. “Here Lady 
Justitia has no claim upon her servants?” 

“No,” said Thorsten; “but another lady 
has. I promised to accompany Mrs. Billmer to 
the soiree.” 

For a moment, Mrs. Hervig gave Thorsten a 
look of surprise, but, quickly comprehending 
the position, she nodded approvingly. 

“Well, then,” she added, “much pleasure; 
we shall have to be contented without you. 

“Wish me, rather, much patience,’’ replied 
Thorsten, with a smile. “I dislike such a place; 
and how people with free will and sound reason 
can, in Summer particularly, spend time so 
foolishly, is to me quite incomprehensible.” 

“But why do you submit to such suffering?” 
said Elsie, who could not see what necessity 
there was for the offer. 

“I have no thought of making myself a mar- 
tyr,” said Thorsten. “When Mrs. Billmer enters 
the hall, she will be so surrounded that I can 
retire without being missed, and go out into the 
park, where I suppose I shall find some reason- 
able being to talk with. Perhaps I can induce 
Axel to keep me company.” 


LENA. 


184 

“I do n’t believe you can; he avoids the 
park,” said Elsie. 

“Yes; but he has resolved to become more 
social,” remarked Thorsten. “I have given him 
several matters for thought, that I hope will do 
him good. Among other things, I have awak- 
ened a desire for undertaking a journey abroad, 
and he will probably leave in the Fall.” 

“Do you think this will be good for him?” 
asked Elsie. “How can he, under the con- 
stantly changing impressions of a journey, find 
the light and peace which he so much needs?” 

“He must tear away from his melancholy,” 
said Thorsten. “He needs strengthening, men- 
tally and physically, in order not to be con- 
sumed by it. Speak with Mrs. Hervig about 
him. Good-bye!” 

Elsie followed Thorsten’s advice. She treated 
Mrs. Hervig with all the confidence due a long- 
tried friend, and received in return many words 
of encouragement and good counsel. 

From grave topics, conversation turned upon 
Thorsten. 

Mrs. Hervig spoke of him with the warmest 
kindness and highest praise, and seemed to see 
with pleasure the interest with which her young 
visitor listened to her words. 

“May God reward him!” she continued. 


THE STARK FAMILY. 


185 


“He is indeed the protector of the widow and 
fatherless; this I and many others have expe- 
rienced.” 

Elsie’s eyes asked for more ; however, her 
lips did not frame an interrogation. Mrs. Hervig 
understood her, and said, smiling sadly: 

“It would be wrong to leave these words 
without more closely defining them ; but, in 
doing so, I must awaken many sorrowful mem- 
ories. Yet they are connected with so much 
experience of grace- that I can look back upon 
them without bitterness. 

“I had been a widow one year when Judge 
Holt came to our vicinity. My grief at the loss of 
a dear, noble husband was like that of a heathen. 
Grief, which ought to have brought me nearer 
my Savior, showed me that my faith was weak 
and tottering. It could not carry the cross that 
had been laid upon me. I abandoned myself 
to the selfish pain which, like a heavy mist, 
obscured life to me and those around me. 

“My sons, who mourned as youth mourn, 
when the first pain was transformed into sad 
remembrance, sought with love and attention to 
encourage me; but I repulsed them, wounded 
by the light way in which I thought they carried 
the loss of such a father. 

“My eldest son assumed the management 


LENA. 


1 86 

of the estate, in which he already for some years 
had assisted; while my youngest son, a happy, 
uncorrupted youth, who had recently finished 
his military examination, concluded to study 
agriculture also, and help his brother. To live 
for these two dear boys was the work the Lord 
had given me; but I comprehended not its im- 
portance, until with horror I found that my self- 
ish indifference had brought us to the border of 
destruction.” 

A deep sigh manifested the bitterness of the 
recollection, yet she went on : 

“My home was gloomy and empty. To be 
sure, the Word of God was read, according to 
old custom; but the hours of devotion were to 
me painful reminders that the voice which for- 
merly presided was now silent forever. I 
thought only of him, and shut my heart against 
the comfort offered in the Blessed Word. When 
my eldest son took his father’s place, and with 
manly emotion read the Word, he seemed to me 
like a usurper; and when, after he had finished 
reading the prayer,- he came to me, asking in a 
tender tone if I was pleased with him, I only 
turned my head away and wept. He did not 
ask me again; yet his eye evidently sought 
some look of encouragement, which I never 
could bestow, and he retired from the effort. A 


TIIE STARK FAMILY. 


37 


cold indifference took possession of his heart, 
and filled with poison the entire household. I 
could but perceive the change, and suffered 
therefrom ; yet I did so without acknowledging 
that myself was the cause. 

“I have already spoken of a peril that threat- 
ened us. My youngest son was a proficient in 
music; but, as he could never now open the 
piano without driving me from the room, he 
soon began to seek friends and amusement out- 
side his cheerless home. His visits- to town be- 
came more and more frequent, and, from amuse- 
ments comparatively innocent, he was gradually 
led into such as even the world disapproves. 

“From the bowl to the gambling-table the 
road was not long. The elder brother advised 
the younger, who became irritated. Words 
arose between them, and the result was that 
Theodore, the erring one, forsook his home. 

“Now came a time of great sorrow, just the 
point at which we formed the acquaintance of 
Judge Holt. My eldest son, Henrik, conceived 
an immediate friendship for him, and the warm, 
living Christianity of Judge Holt’s life had its 
genial influence upon the spiritual life of Henrik. 
My poor Theodore had been sucked deeper and 
deeper down the vortex into which he had been 
drawn. He incurred a debt in gaming, which 


LENA. 


1 88 

soon arose to a height that aroused his dread. 
But it was not the feeling of a true penitent by 
which he was now seized. No! it was horror, 
contempt for himself, fright for the future — in a 
word, dark and paralyzing despair; so that he 
finally hid himself from his new friends also. 

“Through what the world calls an accident, 
but I call God’s providence, Judge Holt was led 
to overhear a heartless conversation between 
certain reckless persons, in which wonder was 
expressed at Theodore’s non-appearance, and 
the supposition rudely made that he had con- 
cluded to hang himself. 

“ ‘ O, then, ’ said one of the party, in re- 
sponse to this, ‘he will have no fear that, after 
clearing out his pockets as you did last Sunday, 
you will be after his clothes also; for I doubt 
whether he has any thing else left.’ 

“Holt suspected that there lay underneath 
this a fearful truth; and, although having little’ 
acquaintance with Theodore, he resolved to 
make immediate search for him. He found his 
quarters, but the door was locked. Finally, he 
succeeded in finding a woman, whom he asked 
for Lieutenant Hervig; but at first she refused 
to admit him. ‘The Lieutenant had perempto- 
rily commanded her to admit no one,’ she said; 
but when Holt assured her that it was of the 


THE STARK FAMILY. 


189 


greatest importance that he should speak with 
Theodore, that he did n’t belong to the class of 
gentlemen who were in the habit of coming 
there, she not only opened the door, but her 
heart also, telling him her anxieties about the 
Lieutenant, who, she said, had behaved in such 
a strange manner lately as to give her alarm. 

“Judge Holt had no patience to listen longer, 
but bade her hasten to open the door. His 
suspicion had not been misplaced. A single 
glance was sufficient to show how irreparable 
might have been the loss of a few moments. 
He found Theodore, pale and emaciated from 
mental suffering and sleeplessness, writing with 
feverish rapidity, while at his side, upon the 
table, lay a loaded pistol. The door had been 
opened so cautiously as not to attract his atten- 
tion ; but at the sound of footsteps he started, 
and exclaimed: 

“ ‘Who dares to intrude?’ 

“ ‘ A friend,’ said Holt, and laid his hand 
gently upon Theodore’s arm. 

“ * A friend! Yes; I have many such,’ said 
Theodore, with cutting bitterness, ‘and that is 
just the reason why I have no time to spare.’ 

‘ ‘ I can. not give the conversation that ensued ; 
but sure it is that what Judge Holt then said 
and did will never be forgotten. Theodore 


LENA. 


I9O 

acknowledged to him the whole round of his 
errors, his despair, and resolution to shorten his 
life. The letter that he was writing as the Judge 
entered was for me, he said, and to be his last 
work before the committal of the deed that 
would fix his doom.” 

Mrs. Hervig shuddered at the revolting recol- 
lection, and it was some time before she could 
proceed. 

“The Judge must have gained admittance to 
Theodore’s confidence; for he showed him a 
list of his debts, which he .supposed must drive 
me from my home; for our fortune and only 
income consisted in the property we held mu- 
tually. Inexperienced as he was, and unaccus- 
tomed to business, his fears had much exagger- 
ated his real condition. Judge Holt succeeded 
in convincing Theodore of this, and remained 
with him several hours, until his excitement was 
over; when, persuading him to take food, from 
which he had abstained for two days, and after- 
ward to go to bed, Holt left, promising to come 
for him in the morning, and take him home. 

“What a meeting! What a mixture of joy, 
sorrow, repentance, dread, gratitude, and hope! 
My eyes were opened; I saw my own work. 
The mutual weakness and repentance of his 
mother and brother seemed to make us more 


THE STARK FAMILY. 


I 9 I 

dear to Henrik, whose character showed itself 
from the most amiable side. Sure it is that 
this period forms a new era in our home, one in 
which, although it has had great difficulties and 
druggies, has had also its rich experiences of 
God’s grace and love. Next God, our gratitude 
for all our happiness is due Judge Holt.” 

Elsie was deeply affected, while Mrs. Helvig 
reclined wearily upon the sofa, closing her eyes; 
and Elsie ventured not to interrupt the silence 
until again she opened them, when she rever- 
ently carried her hand to her lips, and whispered: 

“Thank you!” 

Mrs. Hervig drew Elsie lovingly toward her, 
and said : 

“I have opened my heart to you; but I 
should be a prattlesome old woman if it were 
my habit to do thus with strangers. But little 
Elsie, if I may call you so, is no stranger to 
me. I hope we shall learn to love each other 
sincerely.” • 

Elsie responded pleasantly, and the evening 
sped on at such a rate that she was quite sur- 
prised when the time came to go home. 


Cl^tef XVII. 


DESIGNS AND DELIBERATIONS. 



IRfS Mrs. Billmer sat yawning, the next 
|U day, over a French novel, and reposing 
after the last night’s exhaustion, Elsie 
was diligently sewing, thus showing that 
her object was to use, and not spend time. 
After a while, Mrs. Billmer suddenly threw 
her book aside, and exclaimed: 

“I have had a brilliant idea, to which even 
you, little Puritan, can not deny approval! I 
have decided to give a fete charnpetre — a dinner 
on the green — in some nook among the cliffs. 
We are going out on a Viking expedition. Pal- 
lin, with his serving spirits, must take care of 
the provisions; and our only care will be to ren- 
der ourselves agreeable and entertaining. Well, 
do you see any aunt, with glittering sword, turn- 
ing to prevent your entrance to this paradise?” 

Although this effort at jest was offensive to 
Elsie, she was pleased at the arrangement. It 
192 


THE STARK FAMILY. 


*93 


promised real pleasure. She was sure of finding 
Thorsten’s name at the head of the invitation 
list, as at present he possessed the transient for- 
tune of Mrs. Billmer’s particular favor. Nollen’s 
presence, pursuing her with his flat attentions, 
was a necessary evil, which she was prepared to 
endure with patience. 

“Yes, it is unquestionably a good plan, if 
the company is not too large,” said Elsie. 

“Well,” replied Mrs. Billmer, “I should 
judge that about twelve persons would be a 
suitable number for such a little picnic. I, you 
and your brother, Judge Holt, Nollen, Baroness 

S with daughter and son (you know the 

young Baron S who taught you to dance 

fran^aise), and Mrs. Colonel D . There 

we have five ladies and four gentlemen, con- 
sequently three vacancies to fill. Two more 
young gentlemen would n’t be out of place. 
Yes, this will be delightful! I shall get the 
thing going immediately. To-morrow fits excel- 
lently, if the weather permits. Will you go 
with me to the park?” 

“Thank you, but I have no time,” said Elsie. 

“Time? O, how absurd! What necessary 
work are you engaged in, if I may ask? Cot- 
ton goods, I see.” 

“I am making a dress for a poor little girl.” 

13 


i 9 4 


LENA. 


“O, how lovely!” cried Mrs. Billmer, scorn- 
fully, “Can we not even here be free from 
beggars? I see enough of dirty, hungry, ragged 
youngsters at home. I really wish here to es- 
cape all reminders of such annoyances; and I 
demand that you draw none of the rabble here. 
It is enough to be obliged to meet such ob- 
jects upon the street, and hear their winnings 
there.” 

“If you had seen the bright-eyed, neat little 
girl for whom I am making this, you would 
have found the sight far from disagreeable',” 
said Elsie; “besides, she is not under my pro- 
tection. It was Mrs. Hervig who gave her the 
dress, and I offered to sew it; for Mrs. Hervig 
can not, on account of the rheumatism in her 
hands.” 

“O, yes, that’s all very fine. Keep at the 
sewing, in the hope of gaining admiration,” 
said Mrs. Billmer; and her cold, scornful words 
could not be otherwise than as a drop of bitter- 
ness upon the innocent pleasure which Elsie 
found in her little work; but, when she was 
alone, every unpleasant impression soon disap- 
peared, and her thoughts again, while plying 
her needle, were full of cheer. 

After the lapse of a couple of hours, Mrs. 
Billmer returned, beaming with good humor. 


THE STARK FAMILY. 195 

accompanied by Thorsten and Nollen. She had 
hardly entered before she called out to Elsie: 

“Hear, my little friend! Now you will have 
a splendid chance for showing the goodness of 
your heart! The directors of the public amuse- 
ments ask you to step forward as one of the 
ministers of Mercy. I am to represent Mercy. 
The costumes are to be ordered from Gothen- 
burg, and the whole promises to be charmant . ” 

“What is the meaning of this?” asked El- 
sie, looking in surprise from Mrs. Billmer to 
Thorsten. 

But a half-suppressed, satirical smile was all 
she obtained from the latter, and Mrs. Billmer 
continued : 

“The meaning is that I, Mercy, sit upon a 
throne, and, through my ministering spirits, dis- 
tribute gifts to the poverty and want that lift 
their hands imploringly around. Acknowledge, 
Judge Holt, that the idea is a beautiful and 
touching one! I predict that it will draw tears 
into many eyes.” 

“It will certainly be enough to weep at,” 
said Thorsten, gravely. “It is a cutting satire 
upon the charity of our day.” 

“How?” asked Mrs. Billmer, as surprised as 
Elsie recently had been. 

“It is dramatic nonsense,” continued Thor- 


196 


LENA. 


sten; “a trifling with life’s bitterest realities; a 
folly as hurtful to the giver as to the receiver.” 

“Are you not too severe?” asked Elsie, mod- 
estly venturing a remark. 

“I do not deny that such undertakings may 
contain much good-will, and zeal even; but it 
is a wrong way for dispensing charity. Beg- 
gary has become an enervating and demoralizing 
disease. The healing strength, which, rightly 
used, would elevate and invigorate society, is 
not only wasted, but brings forth curse instead 
of blessing.” 

“To say that society is diseased is quite com- 
mon,” said Nollen; “but tell me, where is the 
remedy?” 

“In a living, healthful Christianity, a better 
acquaintance with both the spirit and letter of 
the Bible. This is what is needed by both poor 
and rich,” replied Thorsten. 

“O, is nothing more than Christianity re- 
quired?” said Mrs. Billmer, trying to turn off 
the serious tone of the conversation by a jest. 
“Then the want may soon be supplied; for at 
present we are almost deluged by Christianity.” 

“It is to be regretted that there are all too 
many who allow themselves to be deluged rather 
than penetrated by Christianity,” said Thorsten, 
who was so engrossed in his subject as to seem 


THE STARK FAMILY. 197 

not likely soon to leave it; and Mrs. Billmer 
deemed it necessary to interrupt him. 

“Well, my good Judge,” said she, “this is 
certainly true and excellent altogether, I will 
not dispute; but let us return now to the prin- 
cipal question.” 

“To the costumes?” asked Thorsten. 

Mrs. Billmer found Thorsten’s smile very 
annoying, as she replied: 

“No; the costumes are already ordered. I 
mean my question whether Elsie will give her 
service to Mercy.” 

“I will gladly serve both you and mercy, 
but not in a tableau vivant ,” replied Elsie, feel- 
ing that she had a protector at her side. 

“Again a refusal?” said Mrs. Billmer. “But 
consider how ungrateful this is toward the direct- 
ors, who showed me the courtesy to think of 
you; and the poor, too, who have the income 
from the sale of tickets. How can you be so 
hard-hearted? To be sure, there will be labor 
and fatigue in it; but what will not one do for 
his suffering neighbor?” 

Elsie could not be moved; and, after all, 
Mrs. Billmer took her refusal quietly, remem- 
bering liow much more assistance she was likely 
to have from Elsie than were she to have a 
costume of her own to look after. She liked, 


198 


LENA. 


too, that her servants should be her inferiors in 
beauty, which would not have been the case 
with Elsie. 

After an extensive detail of what was to be 
done in order that the affair should be a brilliant 
thing for the poor, Mrs. Billmer said: 

‘ ‘ O, Elsie ! I forgot to tell you that our plan 
for to-morrow seems likely to meet with excel- 
lent success. I have got ‘Yes’ wherever I have 
turned.” 

“The person who was so fortunate!” ivhis- 
pered Nollen, with a languishing look, to Elsie. 

“Are you not invited, sir?” she asked. 

“O, yes!” he replied; “but I meant Mrs. 
Billmer was fortunate to have obtained a ‘Yes.’” 

He sighed, and found even himself that he 
was flat; and Elsie turned away without an- 
swering. 

“Shall we gather at two o’clock?” asked 
Thorsten. 

“Yes, and in Paradise,” answered Mrs. Bill- 
mer. “From there we shall start.” 

“To land where?” asked Thorsten. 

“It depends upon circumstances,” replied 
Mrs. Billmer. “We shall take our kitchen 
with us, so can leave it with wind and weather 
to decide our fate.” 





XVIII. 



‘‘BOAST NOT OF THE DAY BEFORE THE EVENING.” 

flND and weather carried Mrs. Billmer 
and her guests to an enchanting little 
valley among the cliffs, where proud 
oaks, fragrant caprifolium, pretty entan- 
glements of woodbine, and many other 
children of the “green-locked Hertha,” 
were shielded from the rough sea winds. The 
sky was cloudless, the air salubrious, the dinner 
faultless, and the solemn gray cliffs resounded 
with the merriment of human voices. The sun 
began to lower, and the two elder ladies sug- 
gested the propriety of starting homeward; but 
the lively hostess asserted that it was much 
too early. 

“We must first look around,” said she. 
“Here we have been for several hours in the 
same place. Do any wish to g-o with me among 
the mountains on an exploring tour?” 

“I do! I do!” shouted the young people; 

l 99 



200 


LENA. 


and it was resolved that half an hour should be 
spent thus in roving about, after which the 
whole party should meet at the boats. 

Mrs. Billmer thought it too prosy to walk 
along the paths ; so she ran ahead, among 
bushes and rocks, declaring that her companions 
must follow her, like faithful subjects. 

“Yes; to death!” answered Nollen. 

“To the abyss; but no farther,” said Baron 

S , laughing, as he overtook Mrs. Billmer, 

who had stopped at the edge of a wide, deep 
cleft in the mountain. 

“No farther than the abyss, then,” said Mrs. 
Billmer, laughing. 

“No, gracious lady,” replied the Baron; “it 
is contrary to my principles to promise more 
than I can perform.” 

“Then I suppose I must bid you to remain 
here; for over the gulf it seems impossible to 
pass, and into it- I think no one has the desire 
to follow me; although, if this should be one of 
the porches of hell, the entrance is not wanting 
in pictorial beauty,” said Mrs. Billmer. 

Nollen laughed uproariously at this superb 

jest. Baron S smiled. Miss S looked 

abashed, and as if uncertain whether one coniine 
il faut should listen to an expression so frivo- 
lous. Elsie turned away with dissatisfaction; 


THE STARK FAMILY. 


201 


and Thorsten was grave, but said nothing. As 
Mrs. Billmer received no reply, she said, gayly : 

“One trophy, at least, I shall carry with me, 
even though His Subterranean Majesty himself 
should oppose. This handsome branch of cap- 
rifolium shall be mine.” 

So saying, she bent quickly forward over the 
steep precipice to pluck it. Her foot slipped, 
a shriek was heard — and Mrs. Billmer had dis- 
appeared. 

For the moment, all were stupefied. Not 
a sound, not a groan, was heard. The silence 
was awful. Who should first venture a glance 
downward, to see the recently arrogant, trifling 
being transformed into a mangled corpse ? 

Thorsten was the first to look over, but the 
sight that met him was not so horrifying as he 
had expected. 

“Hush!” he whispered; “there is a possi- 
bility of saving her. She is not dead; but, if 
she should revive from the swoon she is in, a 
slight motion is enough to hurl her irretrievably 
down the abyss.” 

Now the rest of the party approached cau- 
tiously and gazed down, where they saw Mrs. 
Billmer entangled in some blackberry -bushes 
that grew upon a projection of the mountain 
wall. Below this little projection the walls were 


202 


LENA. 


perpendicular, and nothing was to be seen but 
the dark, damp chasm, which now seemed ready 
to swallow her; but above the bushes were 
smaller projections, which rendered a descent 
to her possible, although extremely perilous. 
Thorsten conceived the possibility of this; but, 
fearing too much excitement among the specta- 
tors, he whispered to the trembling young ladies: 

“Hurry to the boat and procure assistance — 
but quietly.” 

His plan was conveyed to the rest more by 
signs than by words. Few and slippery were 
the footholds ; but, steadily and slowly, he began 
to descend, fearful of making the slightest noise 
that might arouse Mrs. Billmer. He succeeded 
in reaching the bush that held the still uncon- 
scious woman, found a sure foothold, and then 
stooped down to lift her. She opened her eyes 
and glared wildly around; then uttered a pierc- 
ing shriek, and clung to Thorsten with such 
convulsive strength that he turned pale, and was 
near slipping. 

“Save me! save me!” she cried, in a tone 
of indescribable horror. 

“Yes; with God’s help,” said Thorsten. 
“Only keep still, and let go my right arm. I 
can not move without the free use of it.” 

Mrs. Billmer obeyed mechanically, and shut 


TIIE STARK FAMILY. 203 

her eyes. The ascent was much more difficult 
than the descent had been ; for, besides the 
burden of Mrs. Billmer’s person, her fluttering 
clothes were constantly catching upon sharp 
stones and bushes. Finally, they had come so 
far up that Axel, by lying prostrate, could reach 
Mrs. Billmer, With more haste than care, he 
assisted Thorsten to get her up and place her 
upon the spot where before she had stood, so 
full of gayety. 

“Thank God!” she muttered. “How dread- 
ful it would have been to die! Die! die! must 
I die?” 

Seized by wild fright, she shrieked again, and 
tried to raise herself. 

“I fall! fall! Help! help!” she cried; and 
again fainted, Tailing toward Nollen, who has- 
tened to support her. 

“Delirium,” said Nollen, looking alarmed, 
and pointing to his forehead. 

“Possibly; but not there,” answered Baron 

S , pointing at Mrs. Billmer’s head; “only 

a quite natural shaking up of the nerves. We 
must manage to get her away from here as 
quickly as possible.” 

Meanwhile, Elsie and Miss S came run- 

ning toward them, accompanied by the boat’s 
crew, who were provided with ropes, and such 


204 


LENA. 


other means of rescue as were available. Axel 
hastened to meet them, with the glad tidings 
that Mrs. Billmer was saved. 

“How? By whom?” 

“There is the hero,” said Axel, pointing to 
Thorsten, who stood, grave and pale, leaning 
against the wall of the cliff. 

Elsie flew toward him, forgetting Mrs. Bill- 
mer and all else for the peril to which he had 
been exposed, and the heroic courage he had 
manifested. 

“O Thorsten, you have risked your life!” 
^ said she. “How could you? .What if you — ” 
Her quivering lips refused to speak the mourn- 
ful possibility. 

“If I were dead, you mean,” said Thorsten, 
looking with tenderness into her tearful eyes. 
“Yes; I am grateful that I was not called by 
sudden death into eternity, although my hope 
and faith in Him who has taken away the sting 
of death did not seem to falter; but, when I 
held in my arms a being so apparently in danger 
not only of death, but the judgment, such a 
stranger to the only light that can disperse the 
darkness of death, my feelings were wonderfully 
solemn. May this deliverance from death be to 
her the means of an awakening to life!” 

Elsie, from her heart, responded to this wish. 


THE STARK FAMILY. 


205 


Both now approached the group surrounding 
Mrs. Billmer, and saw her come again to con- 
sciousness, but without power as yet to move 
or speak. She was carried to the boat, where a 
bed of cloaks and shawls had been prepared for 
her. After moaning awhile, she could finally 
articulate : 

“I am crushed! My head! my head! my 
arms! my back! O, it is dreadful! I shall cer- 
tainly be a cripple for life!” And she moved 
backward and forth, in a manner which evinced 
more strength and vigor of limbs than patience. 

“Dear Mrs. Billmer,” said Baroness S , 

patting her kindly, “do not be so anxious. We 
will hope for the best.” 

“Anxious!” repeated Mrs. Billmer. “How 
could I be otherwise, with such indescribable 
pain, and the prospect of perhaps being disfig- 
ured forever? O, why should I return to such 
a life? It would have been better to have died 
down there.” 

“Hush!” whispered Elsie, earnestly, almost 
sternly; “you do n’t know what you are saying. 
Think of what it is to die, and thank God that 
you live.” 

Now Mrs. Billmer fell into a kind of spas- 
modic hysterics that frightened the whole com- 
pany, and not least among them the poor Elsie, 


20 6 


LENA. 


who felt herself the cause of this new increase 
of suffering. 

However, after a while her sobs were suc- 
ceeded by an unquiet sleep, interrupted by 
violent starts and cries: “I fall!” or, “Help! 
help!” 

“On arriving at Marstrand, the guests ac- 
companied the unfortunate hostess home; after 
which they took leave, to tell, each in his own 
direction, as soon as possible, the sad, remarka- 
ble incident of the afternoon ; but, above all, 
his own feelings and impressions, and the con- 
spicuous part each one had acted. 

However, in justice to Nollen, the reader 
must be informed that he relinquished the 
pleasure of first publishing the calamity, and 
was really the one to bring the doctor, who, 
after a careful examination, found that Mrs. 
Billmer was suffering from some insignificant 
contusions, and a severe shock of her nervous 
system, which needed perfect quiet during some 
days, perhaps weeks. 

However comforting this assurance was, and 
suited to the calling forth of gratitude, it only 
awakened in Mrs. Billmer a feeling of dissatis- 
faction at being considered less ill than she be- 
lieved she really was. 

After wishing his patient a quiet night, the 


THE STARK FAMILY. 


207 


doctor left the room ; and Elsie, who, as the 
door opened, saw Thorsten, Axel, and Nollen 
waiting in the outer room to hear the result of i 
the doctor’s examination, only nodded them a 
good-night, leaving them to obtain their infor- 
mation concerning Mrs. Billmer from the doctor. 
She would not for a moment leave the sufferer. 

“Where is Fanny?” asked Mrs. Billmer. 

“Gone for ice. May I help you?” asked 
Elsie. 

“Light the lamp. I do n’t like darkness; it 
reminds me of the black chasm. O Elsie, it is 
so horrifying! Come nearer. Let me hold your 
hands. I can ’t help thinking how dreadful it 
would be if I were now lying down there. O, 
it seems so dark and damp when — think, how 
much darker it must be there, now, with night 
hanging over it, and so desolate! No human 
voice — only the distant moaning and roaring of 
the sea. You can not imagine how it pains me 
to think how this abyss, that sought to swallow 
me, is yet holding open its fearful gap, as if 
calling, in scorn, ‘ I am waiting for you ! you 
shall not escape me.’ O, that I could crush the 
cliffs, or cause this fearful chasm to be filled!” 
and, letting go Elsie’s hand, she wrung her 
own, in anguish. 

“You misunderstand your fears, I believe,” 


208 


LENA. 


said Elsie, making an effort to be calm. “It is 
not the mountain chasm that causes it. It is 
the abyss of death and sin that arouses your 
horror. But do not allow this feeling to drive 
you to despair; for you know that these powers 
are vanquished for you, if only your heart is 
open to the victor.” 

“Are you not afraid to die, then?” asked 
Mrs. Billmer, in surprise. 

“I hope that I am not,” replied Elsie, “al- 
though life seems so sweet to me that my nature 
shrinks from the thought of death; but I know 
that God’s love will guide me through the valley 
of death, and sustain me in the last struggle.” 

“Strange! You mustn’t leave me, Elsie. 
Your words drive away my horror. I will try 
to sleep,” said Mrs. Billmer; and she soon fell 
into unquiet slumber. 

Fanny was highly satisfied with the arrange- 
ment for the night made by Elsie, who, in the 
capacity of nurse, was to pass her first sleepless 
one. She was quite animated in feeling herself 
useful and necessary, and the thoughts of Thor- 
sten kept her long wakeful. She thought of 
Aunt Lena, how many nights she had spent at 
sick-beds, and wondered if she never used to be 
sleepy. She watched the significant hour of 
twelve approach, and began to feel cold. She 


THE STARK FAMILY. 


209 


could no longer conceal from herself the fact 
that she was sleepy, when, suddenly, again Mrs. 
Billmer awoke with a cry: 

“I am in there again! Help! help!” 

Elsie trembled, and her teeth chattered with 
fright at the consciousness of inability to calm 
either Mrs. Billmer or herself. However, she 
made the effort. 

‘‘Dear friend,” said she, “do n’t you see 
that there is no danger? You are resting in 
your bed, and I am sitting with you. Would 
you like some drops, or water?” 

“No, thank you! it is gone now. I shall 
try to sleep again,” said Mrs. Billmer. 

Again it was still. Elsie struggled against 
sleep, and heard the bell proclaim the midnight 
hour. 

“Elsie,” whispered Mrs. Billmer. 

“Yes; here I am,” responded Elsie. 

“You are my friend, are you not? Will you 
promise me, honestly and sincerely, to answer 
the question I am going to ask you?” 

“Yes,” answered Elsie, without hesitation, 
clasping her hands, as if for gathering strength. 
She feared that her question would be of such 
a nature as that her answer might cause a re- 
newal of the scene upon the boat; and what 
then should she do? Ought she not at once 
14 


210 


LENA. 


to waken Fanny, and send her for the doctor? 
for, come what may, she must speak the truth. 

“Did you see me when I hung among the 
bushes? there — you know?” asked Mrs. Billmer. 

“Yes,” replied Elsie. 

“Tell me, then, sincerely — how did I appear?” 

This question was so unexpected that Elsie 
knew not how to answer it. 

“I don’t understand you,” said she. 

“I wish to know if my appearance was ridic- 
ulous,” said Mrs. Billmer. 

“How could you think that a situation so 
awful could to any one seem ridiculous?” said 
Elsie. 

“O, not at the time; but now, afterward,” 
said Mrs. Billmer. “Don’t you think that the 
recollection of how I looked could make one 
laugh — Judge Holt, for instance?” 

“No, no; I can answer for him as for my- 
self,” asserted Elsie. 

“You relieve my heart of a heavy load, if I 
dare believe you,” remarked Mrs. Billmer. 

Elsie wondered if no heavier burden lay upon 
this heart, no burden for sin; but she ventured 
not to say any thing, and soon not only Mrs. 
Billmer fell asleep, but her young nurse also. 




C^kptef XIX. 



TAKING LEAVE. 

iillPfj* OOR Elsie ! how pale and tired you 
look!” said Axel, next morning, when 
g. he met his sister. “You mustn't keep 
■} J awake longer. Can not I do in your place?” 
J\ Elsie laughed at this proposal, and as- 
sured her brother that she was not tired — 
only a little low-spirited. 

“Why?” asked Axel. “You know, I sup- 
pose, that Mrs. Billmer is in no danger?” 

“Yes, I know the doctor said so. I am 
sorry about myself. Only think: I was sleep- 
ing so soundly in the morning when Fanny 
came in and Mrs. Billmer awoke, that they both 
laughed at me.” 

“And this wounded your dignity as a nurse? 
Consequently, not even you are exempt from 
human weakness,” said Axel. 

“O, how you talk!” said Elsie. “Who knows 
my weaknesses better than you do?” 


2 1 1 


212 


LENA. 


Axel had a good mind to say that he consid- 
ered her pretty free from fault in this case, but 
contented himself with placing a kiss of broth- 
erly love and dignity upon her forehead, and 
admonishing her to be reasonable and not grieve 
for such a trifle. 

“I have a matter of importance to speak 
with you about,” he continued. “What do 
you think? Nollen has been to me, begging 
that I will act as his talisman with you. I was 
very much surprised at such a commission; but 
he told me he had been so unsuccessful in his 
attempts at soliciting your heart and hand that 
he despaired of success without assistance. Last 
night, he seemed to me so good-natured and 
kind in his readiness to help that I suppose I 
must have treated him in a more social, friendly 
manner than usual, and thus given him courage 
to open his heart.” 

“It was well that he turned to you,” said 
Elsie, who the day previous had heard so many 
hints that she was not now surprised at the offer, 
but glad only to have the matter settled. “I 
suppose you gave him at once a decided refusal?” 

“No, he didn’t ask for me. He asked for 
you,” said Axel. 

“But you know that I never, never will have 
him for my husband.” 


THE STARK FAMILY. 


213 


“Why not?” asked Axel, with the indiscreet 
desire to pry out the secret sensations of his 
sister’s heart. 

“And you ask this — you, who think him so 
unendurable? I do not love him,” said Elsie. 

“Whom, then, do you love?” asked Axel. 

“What a funny question!” said Elsie, blush- 
ing and confused. “I love father, aunt, and you.” 

“And Thorsten?” added Axel. 

“Yes, Thorsten, too,” said Elsie. 

“Then Nollen has nothing to hope for?” 

“No,” replied Elsie; “but you must be very 
kind to him, and say that I am both sorry for 
and grateful to him.” 

“And that you bestow upon him your undy- 
ing friendship?” added Axel. 

“O, you mustn’t make fun! He is so kind 
and upright; and last night his zeal in assisting 
was quite touching.” 

“O, do you begin with that tone? Perhaps 
you already repent your refusal?” said Axel. 

“Of course not; but tell him it would make 
me really happy to hear soon that he had for- 
gotten his sentiment for me, and that I wish him 
all good.” 

Elsie was now called for from the sick-room, 
and Axel promised to act with as much delicacy 
and courtesy as possible in giving Nollen her reply. 


214 


LENA. 


With sanguine anticipations, Elsie .returned 
to her post as nurse. She thought that Mrs. 
Billmer, after some hours’ sleep, would have so 
far recovered strength that she could converse 
with her about the grace of God, manifested to 
her in her great deliverance. It seemed natural 
to Elsie that the anguish by which, during the 
stillness of the night, Mrs. Billmer had been 
filled, should take, in the light of day, what she 
considered its real form — a deep and pungent 
grief for sin; and she thought what an unspeak- 
able privilege it would be to whisper the true 
peace and comfort to her struggling spirit! 

She entered the room cautiously, so as not 
to disturb the invalid, when the first sound that 
fell upon her listening ear was a heavy sigh. 

“The doctor has been here,” said Mrs. Billmer. 

“Has he said any thing that troubles you?” 
asked Elsie. 

“Yes, lie has forbidden my receiving a single 
visit to-day. How long time will be!” said Mrs. 
Billmer. 

“Do you think so? I think you rather ought 
to regard each moment as a precious gift,” said 
Elsie, frightened at her own boldness. 

“Heartless girl!” exclaimed Mrs. Billmer. 
“Will you remind me again of my escape from 
the chasm?” 













Elsie and Mrs Billmer 






THE STARK FAMILY. 


215 


“Forgive me,” said Elsie. “I was thinking 
of the great value of life, and how unmindful 
we all are of its brevity.” 

“No sermons, my dear!” said Mrs. Billmer. 
‘ ‘ My nerves are too weak for any thing of the 
kind. I am sufficiently besieged by my own 
thoughts. If you would read to me, perhaps I 
could listen.” 

“What do you wish to hear?” asked Elsie, a 
little discouraged at the failure of her efforts at 
conversation. 

“I don’t know. The novel I began yester- 
day is n’t exactly suitable. I read only two 
chapters; but they told of six murders, and 
three or four other crimes; so that is somewhat 
too exciting for my poor nerves. Have n’t you 
something interesting to offer?” 

“Have you read ‘Glimpses of the Human 
Heart,’ by Lobstein?” asked Elsie. 

“No, I don’t know that author,” said Mrs. 
Billmer. “If it isn’t wild and sensational, like 
my novel — and one would imagine it to be so, 
from the title — you can try, if you please.” 

With pleasure, Elsie brought the book whose 
words she believed would prove so much more 
effectual than her own to lead Mrs. Billmer’s 
thoughts where she desired; but the reading 
had hardly lasted ten minutes, when Mrs. Bill- 


21 6 


LENA. 


mer signified, by a motion, that it was to be 
discontinued. 

“Thank you; but this is a queer selection 
for the occasion,” said she. “I must acknowl- 
edge that I expected something of a quite dif- 
ferent character. This is appropriate for Sunday 
forenoon. Now I need something more enliven- 
ing; but your intentions were good.” 

“Another unsuccessful effort,” thought Elsie, 
with a sigh. 

“Ask Fanny to come in,” said Mrs. Billmer. 
“I have just been thinking how I will dress to- 
morrow. The doctor thinks I can go out into 
the sitting-room then, and I shall receive calls. 
It requires both taste and tact to arrange a 
toilet suitable and becoming to a convalescent. 
It should be at once tasty and unassuming.” 

The deliberations that now followed seemed 
to Elsie so out of place that she withdrew to 
seek advice from Mrs. Hervig. The old lady 
listened to her in a manner that bespoke encour- 
agement. 

“I had hoped so much good would result 
from this warning,” said Elsie, sadly; and she 
depicted to Mrs. Hervig the unchanged condi- 
tion of Mrs. Billmer’s mind, and how fruitless 
were all her efforts to direct the thoughts of the 
invalid. 


THE STARK FAMILY. 


217 


“It would seem discouraging,” said Mrs. Her- 
vig; “but your youthful ardor has expected too 
much from an exterior occurrence. You hoped 
to see a sudden, great change, and you can 
not descry even a small one; but how can you 
or I know what the spirit of God may do in 
secret? Perhaps some seed has been sown that 
will one day germ to life — a spark fallen upon 
the hardened conscience that shall become a 
consuming fire. You mustn’t become weary 
in well-doing, even though it may seem to 
you that all your sympathy is overlooked and 
despised.” 

“No,” said Elsie, “I trust that my interest 
is warm and lively; but it is such a trial to me 
to seek in vain for words that can touch her 
heart.” 

“Words can reach the heart; but they can 
also be forgotten,” said Mrs. Hervig. “Leave 
in her memory the picture of a cheerful, gentle, 
patient Christian, and you have given her more 
than words; and then, firstly and lastly, pray — 
pray for her and for yourself!” 

While Mrs. Hervig was speaking, Thorsten 
had entered, and, with manifest emotion, was 
contemplating Elsie, who was listening so atten- 
tively to the words of her aged friend as not to 
have noticed when the door was opened. 


2I§ 


LENA. 


“My time is so brief,” said Thorsten, “par- 
don what may seem my selfishness, if I interrupt 
conversation. ” 

“Your time so brief? Do you think, dear 
Judge, to leave us before the appointed time?” 
asked Mrs. Hervig. 

“Yes, I have just received a letter that neces- 
sitates my departure,” answered Thorsten. “I 
had intended to remain some days longer; but, 
as it is, I must leave Marstrand at noon. I 
am very glad to meet you here,” said he to 
Elsie. “I feared that you would be so occu- 
pied with Mrs. Billmer as to render it difficult 
for me to find an opportunity for bidding you 
good-bye.” 

Elsie tried to answer, but failed. The treach- 
erous tears poured forth again and again. She 
was ashamed of her childishness. Why could 
she not, in a calm, friendly manner, tell him 
she was sorry, very sorry, that he must leave 
them so soon? She did not know. Thorsten 
spoke with Mrs. Hervig about his journey, so 
that Elsie had time for quieting her emotions. 

“When are you coming to Stockholm?” she 
asked, as Thorsten’s look again rested upon her. 

“Next Fall.” 

“Not before? That is more than a year,” 
said Elsie. 


THE STARK FAMILY. 219 

“Yes, it is a long time/’. he replied; “but 
you must n’t forget me.” 

He tried to speak in a jovial manner; but 
his voice betrayed an emotion that gave to his 
words a deep and earnest signification. Elsie 
extended him her hand, saying, as she did so: 

‘ * Good-bye, Thorsten. ’ ’ 

“Not yet,” he replied, and kept her back. 
“You mustn’t leave us so soon.” 

“Yes, I must,” she replied. “Mrs. Billmer 
is waiting for me, and — ” 

The tears could no longer be repressed. 

“You must take an adieu to Mrs. Billmer for 
me,” said Thorsten. “Tell her I am sorry I can 
not see her to speak it myself, and that I hope 
she \yill soon be recovered;” and, quickly carry- 
ing her hand to his lips, he whispered, “God 
bless you !” 

Elsie had gone. Thorsten stood gazing after 
her; then, suddenly turning to Mrs. Hervig, 
he said: 

“Am I a hero or a coward to let her go 
alone?” 

Mrs. Hervig smiled at the unexpected ques- 
tion, and said : 

“Do not demand judgment without investi- 
gation, my dear jurist.” 

“I forbear to see her alone, and feel myself 


220 


LENA. 


heroic; but is it not cowardly to do so for fear 
of losing one’s self-control?” 

“ ‘Better fly than fight poorly,’ says the prov- 
erb; and I can not deny, my dear Judge, that, 
if you hold to your resolution to withhold from 
her the real character of your regard for her, it 
were high time to take flight,” said Mrs. Hervig, 
laughing. 

“Yes, that’s true; but I dislike to leave her 
with Mrs. Billmer. My hope is in you, Mrs. 
Hervig. Take good care of her.” 

“It would be sad if your hope had no better 
stay than in me,” replied Mrs. Hervig; “but 
rest assured it will be my highest pleasure to be 
of any service to Elsie. Her society is to me 
like the presence of a mild Spring day.” 






dl\k<ptef XX. 

HOMEWARD BOUND. 

FTER the departure of Thorsten, Elsie 
began to realize that Mrs. Billmer was 
^ not altogether mistaken in her opinion 
^ of the surroundings of Marstrand. She 
longed for home. 

Mrs. Billmer’s nervous system soon re- 
gained the elasticity it had lost for a few days; 
and no rose, swayed by the wind, more easily 
shakes off the trembling dew-drop than did her 
soul seem to rid itself of every serious thought 
concerning her great deliverance. 

All Elsie’s hopes for a truer sympathy be- 
tween them disappeared entirely. Perhaps, as 
Mrs. Hervig had suggested, a spark had fallen 
upon the heart of Mrs. Billmer that some day 
became a refining fire. We do not know. 

In her character as “ Mercy,” Mrs. Billmer 
received much praise for the true conception 
and excellent execution she displayed ; but, 

221 





222 


LENA. 


whether all the pleasures of this occasion would 
counterbalance the modest gratitude which Elsie 
received from the bright-eyed little girl for whom 
she assisted Mrs. Hervig in procuring clothes, 
we leave it to the reader to decide, hoping he 
has himself experienced what joy there is in 
bringing sunshine to the heart of a little child 
already familiar with want and self-denial. 

Axel had become tired of his dreamings 
upon the sea. Now his thoughts were occupied 
only with the journey abroad, to which he hoped 
his father would consent. 

The day of departure came. When Elsie 
had bidden good-bye to her aged friend, Mrs. 
Hervig, and felt herself blush at the happy as- 
surance with which she spoke of a future meet- 
ing, she found Mrs. Billmer waiting for the 
steamer, weeping, and embracing all her friends, 
who, at the moment of adieu, were so dear. 

“Well, Elsie, are you here at last?” she 
cried. “I have been waiting for you half an 
hour, in mortal anguish.” 

“But the steamer is n’t here yet; why have 
you been so anxious?” asked Elsie. 

“O, I was afraid you would be too late to 
take a last farewell of all these dear friends of 
ours who have gathered here to see us depart,” 
said she; adding, in a whisper, “You certainly 


THE STARK FAMILY. 


223 


can speak a friendly word to Nolleti, who stands 
there, waiting with a bouquet for you, and look- 
ing so unhappy.” 

“Yes; I would like to show him my friendly 
feeling toward him,” said Elsie, touched at the 
sadness of his countenance. 

“Good-bye, Lieutenant Nollen,” said she; 
“thanks for all your kindness. Forgive me if, 
contrary to my intention, I have wounded — ” 

“The steamer! Dearest Elsie! Good-bye!” 

These words were showered by some young 
ladies, who ran up and interrupted Elsie’s little 
farewell speech with an attack of kisses and 
embraces so violent that Elsie became quite 
dizzy; and with a kind of relief she heard the 
signal for starting, and saw the boat move from 
the landing, where the fluttering handkerchiefs 
kept up their adieus. 

We have now left Marstrand, and taken leave 
of Mrs. Billmer, whose graceful form now glides 
away, no more to appear in our story. 

Should some compassionate heart interest 
itself for Nollen, we can say that two months 
had not elapsed, after the events here narrated, 
when hundreds of little white messengers were 
sent out to the world to announce an engage- 
ment between “Adalbert Nollen and Euphrasia 


224 


LENA. 


Filibom,” a solid beauty, who, to be sure, had 
outlived her earliest bloom, but, what was 
better, her rich, parsimonious papa also. Some, 
given to thinking evil, will of course predict 
that the beautiful Euphrasia will hold the purse- 
strings herself, and that, with the money, she 
has inherited also her father’s ear for the clink- 
ing of gold, wherefore the future of our friend 
Nollen may not be wholly exempt from thorns. 






CSl^ptei' XXI. 

“ALL IS WELL THAT ENDS WELL.” 


visit, a heavy, dark, rainy day. The at- 
mosphere is clear and bright, and, although 
‘ the sun has already disappeared, the west- 
ern glow sheds an enlivening roseate hue over 
land and water, and the tumultuous city. 

However, in the offices of wholesale dealer 
Stark no poetic half-days gain rule. The lamps 
are lighted, and busy pens go flying over the 
paper. 

In the inner room, the private office of mer- 
chant Stark himself, the silence is unbroken by 
even the faint sound of a pen. Absorbed in 
thought, he leans his head upon his hand. Is 
it the anniversary of his marriage, or of his be- 
reavement, that calls forth this sad, weary ex- 
pression? Neither. For a long time he has 
15 225 


ipt GAIN it was Autumn, as when we made 
our first visit to the Stark family. But 
it is not, as at the time of our first 


226 


LENx\. 


looked upon the past without bitterness. The 
thought of his departed wife was one full of 
blessed hope. He felt that they were united in 
the same faith, and that each passing year 
brought him nearer the blessedness to which 
she had attained. 

He feels lonely and tired. His ability for 
work begins to give out; and there is no one at 
his side to whom, with full confidence, he can 
resign a part of the care of his business. To 
be sure, his efforts have been blessed, and he 
trusts he can leave to each of his children an 
independent fortune; but how uncertain was this 
hope, should he in these unquiet times be 
obliged to leave in part the management of his 
extensive business into stranger, and perhaps 
dishonest, hands! Deceit and fraud belong to 
the order of the day, and have thrown even 
into the honest soul of Mr. Stark a shade of 
suspicion. 

This thought troubles him ; but there is an- 
other one that troubles yet more his paternal 
heart — the thought of his dear only son, who 
now, during a whole year, has been a wanderer 
in foreign lands, seeking, without being able to 
find, the peace he has lost. During the first months 
of his absence, his letters home were frequent, 
and breathed a hope that had awakened a joyful 


THE STARK FAMILY. 


22 7 


echo there; but then they became less frequent 
and briefer, and, although they evidently evaded 
giving all that pertained to his inner life, they 
wore the stamp of discouragement and disap- 
pointed anticipations. Now, week after week 
had passed without bringing even one of these 
short letters, and the anxiety concerning him 
grew daily. Perhaps he lay ill, or even dying, 
among strangers. 

It was nothing strange that, while the mer- 
chant’s thoughts were thus occupied, he was 
unmindful of the presence of a stranger who 
had passed quickly through the outer rooms, 
and, without asking permission, had come di- 
rectly into his private office. 

“Forgive me, if I disturb you,” said a well- 
intonated voice. 

“Thorsten!” cried the merchant, in surprise, 
drawing his hand across his forehead, as if to 
pass off from his mind the heavy clouds that 
had overcast it, and, whether it was this motion 
of his hand that removed the clouds, or whether 
they were dispersed by the irresistible smile 
that met his eye, sure it is that he seemed 
very cheerful as he added: “Welcome, sin- 
cerely -welcome, my dear boy ! When did you 
come?” 

“Just now.” 


228 


LENA. 


“Then you have n’t seen Aunt Lena and 
Elsie?” 

“No; I wished first to see you, my friend 
and benefactor, to ask a question that concerns 
my future happiness.” 

“O, you are thinking of marriage, I judge, 
from your serious manner,” said the merchant, 
and smiled encouragingly. 

“You understand me, then, already?” 

“Yes, yes; but you need a little assistance 
to start with. Your income is good; but it 
seems to me quite natural that you have been 
unable to lay aside any capital.. It will be a 
pleasure to me to be at your service.” 

“Don’t misunderstand me,” exclaimed Thor- 
sten. “With pride and pleasure I can say that 
my own endeavors have provided a home for 
my future wife. I can not offer wealth and 
luxury; but I can offer a home without debt, 
and a heart with love as warm, and sincere as 
was ever offered to woman.” 

The merchant observed with pleasure the 
open, manly earnestness of the speaker, while 
at the same time he fingered the key of his safe, 
quite puzzled at what could be the purport of 
Thorsten’s question. 

“Since you need no pecuniary help, what 
can I do for you?” he asked. 


THE STARK FAMILY. 


229 

“Give me Elsie.” 

“Impossible!” exclaimed the merchant, start- 
ing from his chair as if struck with consterna- 
tion, which was accompanied by such vehemence 
of gesture as, to a spectator less interested than 
Thorsten, might have seemed ludicrous, but 
upon him produced a very painful impression. 
Becoming pale, he asked: 

“How? Am I too late?” 

“Too late?” repeated the merchant. “What 
do you mean? Too early, much too early!” 
and he began nervously pacing the floor. 

The warm color returned to Thorsten’s cheeks 
as he asked: 

“Is Elsie’s youthfulness the only objection?” 

“Yes. As if that were not a sufficient one!” 
exclaimed the merchant. 

“But she is in her twentieth year, and is no 
longer a child, although the innocent simplicity 
of her manners, gives her a much younger ap- 
pearance than have others of her age. It is 
more than a year since I saw her last; but is 
she not the same as then?” 

“Yes; yet — no, not exactly,” said Mr. Stark. 
“She hasn’t been quite herself since her trip to 
Marstrand. She is less buoyant than before. 
She has sometimes an expression in her eye 
that reminds me of her poor mother, when she 


230 


LENA. 


used to relapse* Into reverie ; but, thank God ! 
her mother’s heavy sigh I have not heard from 
my Elsie. She is happy and healthful; finds 
pleasure in her work, and interest in helping 
and causing happiness wherever she can.” 

“You acknowledge thus that she is more 
developed, less a child and more a woman, than 
when I saw her last,” said Thorsten; “and it 
was then only through much struggle and effort 
that I forbore telling her how dear she was to 
me. But it seemed to me then too early. She 
met me with such loving confidence, such joy 
at seeing a friend of her childhood, that, had I 
then propounded the question that was in my 
heart, she would certainly have answered ‘yes,’ 
without thoroughly understanding her own heart. 
But I was unwilling as a thief to win her; so I 
resolved to keep silent and wait, and not see 
her again until she had completed her nine- 
teenth year.” 

“Thank you!” said the merchant; “you 
acted honorably. And, as far as my consent 
goes, I wish you to understand that no man 
could be more acceptable to me as a son-in-law 
than you ; but Elsie’s happiness is involved, 
and sooner ask my life than that by a single 
word I should attempt to influence her in her 
choice.” 


THE STARK FAMILY. 


231 


‘ ‘ 1 neither ask nor wish this, only the right 
to speak with Elsie myself,” said Thorsten. 

“Yes; but when you speak, will she not, 
from esteem to you and confidence in you, and 
to please me, answer yes?” 

“Can love, then, have a better and more 
solid foundation than esteem and confidence?” 
asked Thorsten. 

“Well, well, this sounds well enough; but, 
you see, I know how it really is to have a wife 
who said yes from a sense of esteem and filial 
duty. God save you both from such a mis- 
fortune !” 

“Forgive me for touching upon a subject so 
tender,” said Thorsten; “but I think that the 
circumstances surrounding Elsie can not be com- 
pared with those in which her mother was 
placed. Were you not a stranger to her, and 
her education more calculated for calling forth a 
sickly sentimentality than an open look at the 
true value of life?” 

“Yes; it was so,” replied the merchant. 

“It may seem strange that I should judge 
circumstances that I never saw; but what little 
has fallen upon my ear concerning your mar- 
riage, taken in connection with my observation 
of similar cases, has produced upon me this 
conviction.” 


232 


LENA. 


The merchant stood meditating, and Thorsten 
continued : 

“Elsie has enjoyed the blessings of a Chris- 
tian home. Whatever her destiny may be, she 
will never be the victim to an overwrought 
fancy or a relaxing indolence. She knows that 
she is a woman and a Christian, and life is to 
her no misty, dreamy picture. Her aim is high. 
She is natural and true, and will not deceive 
either us or herself. How could she hide a 
thought in her pure soul? Leave, then, the de- 
cision to her. Does she love me? O, let me 
hear it from her lips! Has she only friendship 
to give me? I promise by no word or look to 
influence her sympathies. Be yourself present 
at our first meeting as witness, and judge. Per- 
haps I am myself unfit to judge impartially of 
the answer I shall receive.” 

“Thank you! God bless you! Come, let 
us go immediately home,” said the merchant. 

Thorsten was not slow to obey the summons ; 
and soon after we see both gentlemen entering 
the pleasantly lighted sitting-room, where Miss 
Lena and Elsie are busy at their sewing, forming 
a picture of domestic happiness and quiet. A 
magnificent bouquet of Autumn flowers, and a 
basket of delicious fruit, contributed with their 
fresh colors to the enlivenment of the scene; 


THE STARK FAMILY. 


233 


while some new books and the open piano wit- 
nessed that the needle was sometimes laid aside 
for other occupation. 

Elsie arose to meet her father; and when she 
saw Thorsten, joy beamed from her eyes, and 
her cheeks glowed; but suddenly became again 
pale, and she stood trembling. 

“Do I frighten you, Elsie?” said Thorsten, 
seizing both her hands. 

“No, no; I am so glad!” she answered. 

“You are so surprised?” asked Thorsten. * 

“No; I have been looking for you,” said 
Elsie, artlessly. “You promised to come in the 
Fall; and I called it Fall early this year,” she 
added, endeavoring with a jest to hide her emo- 
tion and the violent throbbing of her heart. 

“Elsie, dare I hope that the question I have 
come to ask you is also not unexpected?” 

Her head drooped modestly, and she saw not 
the warm look that rested upon her; but did she 
not feel it? Did it not shed light and warmth 
through her whole being? Thorsten drew her 
to him, and whispered: 

“Elsie, will you become my wife?” 

What would she answer? The father stood 
waiting, in breathless suspense, to hear; but, as 
far as words are concerned, he might have re- 
mained in utter uncertainty, for no sound from 


2 34 


LENA. 


Elsie reached his ear. And yet she must have 
replied. What else meant this long embrace ; 
this exclamation of transport, “Thank you, my 
precious one!” these kisses, those beaming, tear- 
ful glances? 

The merchant had ample time for making 
these reflections, and drying his spectacles, 
which had a peculiar tendency to become dim. 

Finally, the young people seemed to remem- 
ber that they were not the. only creatures in the 
universe, and Elsie, hastening to her father, 
threw herself into his arms. 

“Father, dear father,” said she, “I am so 
happy!” 

The merchant made a feeble effort to raise a 
doubt as to the character of her feelings. 

“How can you know that you love him?” 
he asked. 

“Father,” said she, “how do you know it is 
Spring, when all nature exults in the newly 
awakened life of a precious May-day? That is 
the way it seems in my heart, only a thousand 
times happier and brighter than .any earthly 
Spring day can be.” 

“But,” said the father, “if I should see 
Spring develop within the space of five minutes, 
I should be very much inclined to regard it as 
an illusion of my senses.” 


THE STARK FAMILY. 


235 


“O father,” said Elsie, “do n’t think that I 
have n’t loved Thorsten before now and, as 
she spoke, her eye met Thorsten’s, and she hid 
her blushes in her father’s bosom. 

“Child,” said the father, stroking her light 
hair, “may God’s blessing rest upon you, and 
his hand guide you along the way that now ap- 
pears to you so bright, but which to you even 
will not be without cares and troubles! Bear 
them . mutually, and as Christians. You have 
been the sunshine of my life, Elsie; be the 
same to your husband also. Take her, Thor- 
sten — or, rather, keep her; for she is already 
yours.” 

The reader has perhaps, like the three actors 
in this scene, forgotten the presence of a fourth, 
whose heart was throbbing with the warmest 
sympathy. Lena had for a long time suspected 
Elsie’s secret; but she was restrained from 
drawing out her confidence by the same wom- 
anly delicacy that caused Elsie to withhold it. 

Lena was therefore quite prepared for what 
would take place when Thorsten should come, 
although she had not expected it so immedi- 
ately upon his arrival. She was happy in seeing 
the happiness of her pet, and that she could be- 
lieve in its endurance; for Thorsten had always 
stood high in Aunt Lena’s regard. But, when 


236 


LENA. 


the year before he had spent a few days with 
the old people before going to Marstrand, her 
friendship for him had taken yet deeper root. 
He had openly and earnestly spoken of his 
hope, and she had found in him a rich develop- 
ment of grace and wisdom. Although they did 
not agree in all respects upon certain Scriptural 
points, their disputes were without contest, and 
furnished refreshing exercise for thought and 
faith. They both stood upon one platform. 

Yes, Lena rejoiced; and yet, should we an- 
alyze the tear that is falling from her eye, would 
we find joy to be its only ingredient? We be- 
lieve there is in it, too, a trifle of sadness at the 
memory of a joyless youth. 

Shall we smile in contempt at the old lady’s 
half- unconscious perception of never having 
been young? 

No; let the poor tear fall unnoticed. It is 
already away, and Aunt Lena too is partici- 
pating in congratulations and embraces. 

We will wait now until all are quietly seated 
for the evening. Aunt Lena’s knitting is going 
at full speed; but Elsie’s work rests, and yet the 
time does not drag, thanks to her neighbor. 

The merchant is paring an apple, and trying 
to familiarize himself with new circumstances, 
but seems restless and confused. Now and then 


THE STARK FAMILY. 


237 


he casts a smiling look upon the betrothed ones, 
sometimes a sad one into the past, and at the 
next moment he anxiously consults the clock. 

* ‘The mail ought to be in now,” he re- 
marked. “It must bring a letter from Axel.” 

“O, how selfish I am!” exclaimed Elsie. 
“To-night I haven’t had a thought about Axel. 
Dear Axel! When shall we see him again?” 

“Where is he?” asked Thorsten. 

“We know not,” replied Mr. Stark. “His 
last letter was from Geneva; but that came more 
than two months ago, and we have had no reply 
to the many letters we have written him since 
then; so we are very anxious.” 

While her father was speaking, Elsie had 
hastened to meet a servant bringing the mail. 

“Here it is!” she exclaimed joyfully, and 
held up a letter. “This is Axel’s handwriting 
and the Geneva stamp; so he has received all 
we have sent, and yet has been so long silent.” 

The merchant opened the letter and began 
reading; but his voice soon failed him, while 
tears of the purest joy dimmed his eyes; and he 
passed it to Thorsten, who proceeded as follows: 

“Dear Ones at Home: 

“How much cause I have given you for 
dissatisfaction by the irregularity of my corre- 


238 


LENA. 


spondence during the year in which I have been 
a rover abroad; yet I am glad that it has been 
irregular; for so my last long interval of silence 
has given you less anxiety than you would oth- 
erwise have experienced. I have been ill — seri- 
ously so, I believe; but rejoice with me! Life 
has been victorious — not physical life only, but, 
too, that of the spirit. I am now again well ; 
and the first use I make of my strength is to 
communicate to you, in a manner as clear and 
definite as possible, my experiences during this 
time; but remember that I am a convalescent, 
both in body and spirit. My heart is so full of 
joy and praise that I can not calmly and clearly 
develop my thoughts. 

“My last was written you from Geneva, 
where I threw my whole soul into the theolog- 
ical controversies, carried on by men of talent 
and genius. I belonged to no party, but sought 
for the real views of each controversialist. My 
courage was quickened. I thought that here, if 
anywhere, I must find the truth. I heard wit, 
eloquence, and learning — all that could enlighten 
and disperse the darkness of my soul, I thought ; 
and I believed myself at the end of my search. 
I worked and worked, and did not perceive how 
I was becoming deeply engaged in systems and 
dogmas, without coming any nearer to Christ. 


THE STARK FAMILY. 


239 


Theology became to me as dangerous as philoso- 
phy had been. The truth was by truth obscured 
from my vision. My courage again failed. I be- 
came hopeless and weary. An oppressive head- 
ache frequently interrupted my researches. There 
were moments in which I feared for my reason. 

“One evening, when, as usual, I was sitting 
deeply engaged in study, I was visited by a 
young Switzer, a Mr. Bernard, whose acquaint- 
ance I had formed at some theological lecture. 
Bernard is a cheerful, good-hearted man, who 
became interested in me, so he says, because 
we are so utterly unlike. When, for a while, 
he had sat contemplating me, his look became 
uncommonly serious; then he said: 

, “ ‘ I have come to extend you an invitation 
which you must accept. A few of us have re- 
solved to make an excursion among the mount- 
ains, to get a little rest from study. To us, rest 
is more a pleasure than a necessity; but to you 
it is a duty to tear away from your overwork.’ 

“I felt that he was right, and longed to get 
out amid nature. Preparations were soon made, 
and we started. There were six of us. Subject 
for conversation was not wanting. My compan- 
ions were educated, intellectual men, and soon 
discussion took the form of lively dispute; for 
sentiments the most various were represented — 



240 


LENA. 


belief and disbelief, Christ and Belial. I wished 
to be a defender of the faith, but to this end 
felt weak before its antagonists. I lacked both 
the sword of the Spirit and the shield of faith. 

“On the third day of our wandering, we 
came to a beautiful valley. However, it did 
not at first appear to us in its beauty; for, as 
we were entering it, we were surprised by a vio- 
lent shower, which made us think more of seek- 
ing protection than admiring the meadow. Wet 
through, we reached a rustic dwelling, where we 
were hospitably received by a friendly matron. 
My comrades hung their wet clothes before the 
great fire-place, and supplied their lack, as far 
as possible, from the scanty furnishing of their 
valises. 

“My head burned, while I shook with cold 
chills. The merriment of the rest seemed to me 
noisy and disagreeable. Slowly, and with effort, 
too, I got off my wet clothes, and wrapped my- 
self in a woolen blanket, which our kind hostess 
had brought in, among other things, to serve as 
substitute for clothing. The care of the matron 
seemed in particular for me. She gave me a 
motherly look, and placed me in a chair by the 
fire. I sat down, surprised at the unpleasant 
stiffness I felt in all my joints. I was sleepy, 
and yet could not sleep. With half-shut eyes, I 


THE STARK FAMILY. 


24I 


leaned my ficad against the high back of my 
chair, and saw how the gayety of my friends 
disappeared, and that a whispered conversation 
arose between them and the hostess, while the 
looks of all were fixed upon me. I could not 
understand what they were saying, and only felt a 
dull indifference to myself and the whole world. 

“How long I remained sitting thus, I know 
not. After a while, I could discern no defi- 
nite object. All became a confused mass, from 
which glared at me a fearful multitude of eyes. 
The only other recollection I have of this day 
is of being placed in bed by Bernard and Kath- 
erine, my hostess. For a moment, it seemed 
good to stretch my aching limbs; but my fatigue 
was so great that I felt as if fixed to the bed. 
Afterward, I heard how Bernard, with brotherly 
tenderness, made arrangements for me, procured 
me a physician, sent me clothes from Geneva, 
and, as he could not himself remain to nurse 
me, recommended me to the care of Katherine 
and her husband, who proved themselves worthy 
of confidence. 

“The doctor pronounced my disease typhoid 
fever, probably at first induced by over-exertion, 
and afterward developed by a cold, and only 
.ordered that I should be kept perfectly quiet, 
and frequently given a cooling drink. What 
16 


242 


LENA. 


wonderful grace was there in the arrangement 
that led me here to find healing for both body 
and spirit! Far away from the noisy world, I 
was lying in a quiet home, a place of refuge, 
which the Lord himself had opened to me. 
Katherine and Joseph (for that is the name of 
her husband) are real Christians. Their position 
in life is humble but independent. They have 
nursed me as if I were a dear son, and not a 
stranger. God bless them! 

“Two weeks passed without any apparent 
change. I lay in stupor during the day-time, 
while at night the fever raged more violently, 
and I talked at random. I have only a vague 
recollection of a nameless anguish, and a con- 
stantly vain effort to escape from theological and 
philosophical disputes. Thus, on the fifteenth 
night also, I lay suffering great pain. What I 
said, I know not; but what I can never forget is 
the earnest, furrowed countenance that bent over 
me, as a calm, clear voice said: 

“‘This is a faithful saying, and worthy of 
all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the 
world to save sinners.” 1 

“Words can not describe my feelings. Peace 
filled my soul. ‘A faithful saying!’ What more 
did I need? I was saved! A feeling of won- 
der without fear went through me, whether this 


THE STARK FAMILY. 


243 


peace belonged to life, or I was standing upon 
the border of eternity, with the quiet of death 
surrounding me. A feeble ‘Amen!’ was the 
only response I could make; yet I felt as if 
my voice were mingling in the chorus of angels, 
and rising upward to the throne of the holy tri- 
une God! 

“For the first time since my illness began, I 
fell into a refreshing sleep, which lasted during 
twelve hours, when I woke to full consciousness. 
Of course, my body was prostrated by weakness 
and disease; but my spirit was strong and free. 
The light that arose in my soul at Joseph’s cital 
of the ‘faithful saying’ was no illusion. I be- 
lieve I know now what the new birth is. When 
Thorsten comes to you, as I think he soon will, 
tell him that a blessed experience has forever 
silenced in me the Nicodemus question. 

“Physical strength now returned quickly. 
The physician charged me for a time to refrain 
from all mental work; but thought is no longer 
fatiguing to me. On the contrary, I find repose 
in it ; but I do not as yet read. It is refresh- 
ing to me to listen while Katherine and Joseph 
read aloud from the Bible. Their simple, ear- 
nest faith has been more useful to me than the 
discourses of learned divines. It has been an 
immediate conducting to the well itself. 


244 


LENA. 


‘ ‘ Has all my research, then, been to no use — 
all my former reading and hearing only a dis- 
tancing from God? I have asked myself these 
questions, and each time the answer has been a 
cheerful, plainer ‘No.’ I believe that I have 
gathered many a seed that shall become a fruit- 
ful plant. Once they lay enveloped in the dark- 
ness of my spirit, knowledge without life; now 
the sun of grace has dispelled the darkness, and 
its warming rays shall awaken in them life and 
growth. I look back with painful surprise upon 
my unbelief. How simple does the truth appear 
when one has found it! How unlike all human 
work! Did I say that I had found the truth? 
No. It was not so. I am found. See here 
the solution of life’s enigma — the joy that fills 
my soul with light, life, and strength. 

“To-day, when I opened my window, a dense 
fog overspread the landscape. I could see noth- 
ing; and yet I knew that the sun was shining, 
and that the valley lay outspread before me, as 
beautiful as ever; and I felt the beauty of the 
hymn : 

‘Dispel, Lord, the darkness of doubt; 

Let me light from thy countenance see.’ 

Yes, a mist, a darkness had separated me from 
God; and all these doubts, this perplexity and 
anguish, are dispelled by the sun of grace, and 


THE STARK FAMILY. 


245 


the assurance of God’s love revealed in Jesus 
Christ. In my blindness, I thought that human 
reason had demolished the foundations. The 
mist rolled away, and I saw that nothing had 
lost aught of its harmonious beauty. The foun- 
dations are laid in eternity, and shall endure 
forever. What though I can not comprehend 
all? The sun is shining also beyond the range 
of my weak vision. I know that I have much 
to learn, and that life calls me to a ceaseless 
activity. 

“A life of study is unsuited to me; its 
temptations I have tried. I long to begin a life 
of practical usefulness. You, father, have given 
me regard for real work. You have never by a 
word sought to influence my choice of vocation. 
I feel a deep gratitude for your kindness; and 
my wish is to take my place at your side, sup- 
ported by your experience, and supporting your 
old age. Work will thus become light to us 
both, will it not? And the acquirement of 
money shall not be our object, but the use of it 
in the service of our Master. 

“In a few days I shall leave this place, 
which to me will be so memorable. Like 
Jacob, I would wish to raise a stone, with the 
inscription, ‘This is none other but the house 
of God, and this is the gate of heaven;’ for, 


246 


LENA. 


like him, I have seen heaven open, and the 
angels of God ascending and descending. 

* ‘ After a short visit in Geneva, I shall hasten 
northward to the dear old home, where I am 
hoping to feel quite at home, now that, with 
my loved ones there, I can unite in the song 
of redemption. 

“ God’s peace rest upon you! as it rests now 
upon Your happy Axel. 

“P. S. — Thanks, Aunt Lena, for all the 
Scripture texts you taught me when I was a 
child. They came up in memory one after an- 
other, and were very refreshing to me, when I 
could neither hear nor read.” 

“ Blessed be the name of the Lord from this 
time forth and for ever more!” exclaimed Aunt 
Lena. 

The merchant bowed his head upon his 
folded hands in silent thanksgiving, while the 
younger ones began a song of praise. 

Axel’s decision to engage in his father’s 
business gave great satisfaction. The elder ones 
would not be alone when Elsie should leave 
them, and Thorsten could so much the more 
easily make known His arrangements for the 
future, and his wish to take Elsie home as his 
wife in the Spring. 


THE STARK FAMILY. 


247 


His old friend, Judge Dangel, had offered 
him, in case he should marry, the second story 
of his spacious residence, which was now mostly 
unoccupied. A few repairs and alterations 
would render the rooms very commodious for 
their use, and paper and pencils appeared for 
the clearer representation of locality and altera- 
tions. Suggestions were made, expenses calcu- 
lated, and those numerous little matters talked 
over which usually occupy considerable atten- 
tion during the period of betrothal, and are so 
pleasant to the parties interested. 

At night, when Lena Retired, she could not 
help saying, as she looked into Elsie’s beaming 
eyes : 

“Child, you appear so happy that I feel fear 
for you. Do not let your earthly joy obscure 
your joy in God.” 

“O, no, no!” exclaimed Elsie. “My hap- 
piness lifts me on strong wings above earth. I 
know that life at Thorsten’s side will be a jour- 
ney with him upward, in the same faith, toward 
the same goal.” 


THE END. 































































* 






■* > 'v 
































^ - 











' 












































































































































































*'• 




* 

































































t 
















\ 






/ 






r 



♦ 










































